Judge criticises absence of solicitors from Kildare court

A judge has criticised the absence of solicitors from the district court - which meant that a number of scheduled ceases could not immediately proceed.

It happened at Naas District Court.

Judge Cephas Power noted that he had travelled from Waterford for an arranged special sitting - a day set aside for hearing of cases adjourned from the regular court days at Naas Courthouse.

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Some 23 cases were listed for the special day -  a fraction of the list for the normal sitting two days before (131 cases).

Judge Power was critical of a number of requests by legal representatives for cases to be adjourned noting that there is “a huge demand on (court) resources.”

He added: “It’s not good enough to come in and say that (the cases) are not going on.”

He also said that the lawyers and gardaí should not get together and agree to an adjournment without consulting with the Courts Service.

In at least one case the lawyer could not attend because a different case they were also involved in was being heard at a court elsewhere.