The legal team representing a man accused of an assault in Letterkenny has asked a Judge for reports from two specialist forensic scientists.
Barristers for Seamus Cooley made the application at the latest sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Cooley, with an address at The Grange in Letterkenny, is charged with assault causing harm contrary to section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act.
Mr Cooley is charged that on October 15th, 2017 at Castle Street, Letterkenny that he unlawfully assaulted Shannon Reid McDaid thereby causing her harm.
His barrister John McCoy applied to have the legal aid certificate extended to have reports compiled by a number of experts.
These include certificates to allow two forensic scientists to carry out examination of DNA which the prosecution say was left on the victim.
Another is for a software specialist to carry out examinations of more than 20 CDs containing CCTV of the evening in question, a witness who is an expert in facial recognition.
Mr McCoy had previously told Judge John Aylmer that this is “no ordinary run of the mill assault case.”
The court was previously told that the victim had damage to her teeth, nose and face as a result of the assault and was at the “upper end of the scale.”
Judge John Aylmer asked if there was specific need for a second forensic scientist in relation to the DNA evidence saying he did not want to put the State or taxpayer to unnecessary expense.
Mr McCoy said he had been instructed to do this by the senior barrister in the case but would discuss the matter with him.
Judge Aylmer granted a report from one forensic scientist in relation to the DNA and said if the second DNA issue was a different matter or a new scientist needed then the matter could be returned to.
He also agreed to allow the legal aid certificate extended to cover the scientist to cover an examination of the CD discs containing the CCTV footage.
A further certificate was agreed to engage an engineer to get maps of the area which Judge Aylmer said might benefit both sides.
The case was adjourned until the next sessions of the circuit court commencing on October 18th.
