UPDATE: Court case concerning alleged Naas, County Kildare assault struck out

A Naas District Court case concerning an alleged assault in Naas has been struck out.

Back in 2021, it was heard that Sylwia Balecka, whose address was given as  Craddockstown Way in Naas, was being prosecuted for an alleged breach of the Health Act and alleged assault on January 4 last at the Lidl store located on the Newbridge Road in Naas.

Garda Sergeant Jim Kelly claimed at the time that the 44-year-old was not wearing a face mask when she entered the store.

When asked to wear one, she allegedly refused and she allegedly began to record the incident on her phone.

He also claimed that she allegedly assaulted a staff member in the face when she was asked to leave.

At the time, solicitor Matt Byrne said that the defendant was exempt from wearing a face mask, and added that a letter to this effect from her doctor has been handed over to the prosecution.

On the latest date — Thursday, July 18 — solicitor Tim Kennelly raised the issue of delay to substitute judge Nicola-Jane Andrews.

Mr Kennelly said that his client has been in court 'on every single occasion' when her case was called in the past.

Garda Sergeant David Hanrahan told the judge that the prosecution did have a witness. 

However, the witness was unable to stay in the court beyond a certain time.

Judge Andrews decided to strike the case out on the grounds of systemic delay.