Convoy man charged with producing slash hook during minibus theft

A Convoy man has been sent forward to stand trial for producing a slash hook while stealing a minibus.

A book of evidence was this week served on Dean Kelly in relation to an alleged incident in Convoy in August, 2022.

Kelly, a 28-year-old with an address at The Green, Main Street, Convoy, appeared at Letterkenny District Court, where Garda Gillian Page gave evidence of serving him with a book of evidence.

Kelly has been charged that he, by force, did unlawfully seize or exercise control of a Ford Transit minibus on August 13, 2022 at Main Street, Convoy.

Kelly is also charged that he did, while committing an offence, to wit, unlawful seizure of a vehicle, produce in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit,  a lash hook.

Kelly faces a further charge of assault causing harm to Fergal Pleimean.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consented to the accused being forwarded for trial to the present sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Judge Ciaran Liddy made an order returning Kelly for trial. Judge Liddy administered the alibi warning and made a section 56 order in relation to tapes of interviews.

Legal aid was granted to Kelly’s solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher. A second legal counsel was assigned in the case.

At Tuesday’s sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, Mr Peter Nolan BL, representing Kelly, sought witness and exhibits orders.

Judge John Aylmer adjourned the matter until the January sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.