Fahan man remanded as solicitor blasts ‘absurd’ delay

January 8, 2019

A solicitor has hit out at a delay in the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) issuing direction in the case of a Fahan man awaiting charges on various theft offences.

Mark Fair from Ballinahone, Fahan has been held in Castlerea Prison for the last few weeks, having been arrested on December 13,

Fair is alleged to have obtained nearly €1,500 in payments from five different people between February and May 2018.

They included a loader bracket and weight block for a tractor, an iPhone 8 Plus, 15 beef seeders and another tractor part.

Fair appeared at Letterkenny District Court via video link.

His solicitor, Frank Dorrian, said ‘it’s still not good enough’ to be waiting direction.

“It is astonishing that the DPP can’t find out what’s going on,” he told the Court.

“These are unremarkable charges in terms of quantity.

“We are told that the DPP will not be directing. This is a fortnight later. I know everyone was absent and so forth, but it is absurd in the circumstances that he remains in custody.”

Gardai confirmed that a file on one of the matters has not yet been sent to the DPP.

Sergeant James Collins applied for a further two-week remand.

Mr Dorrian said: “It strikes me that Mr Fair is serving a sentence for an indefinite duration.”

Judge Paul Kelly remanded Fair in custody to appear, via video link, on January 21. Judge Kelly said he would strike the matter out if there was no further progress.


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