SEQUEL TO ALLEGED ASSAULT BY FORMER TD… DIFFICULTY IN GETTING A JUDGE TO HEAR CASE

A difficulty has emerged in getting a District Court judge to hear a case in which a former Cavan/Monaghan Fine Gael TD is facing alleged assault charges.

This emerged at a sitting of Carrickmacross District Court yesterday (Wed) when Judge Denis McLoughlin adjourned charges against Sean Conlan, 42, of Main Street, Ballybay, arising from an incident at his family-owned pub in the border town on 23rd August last year.

Conlan, a lawyer, who resigned from Fine Gael before the last General Election and stood as an Independent, failed to retain his seat.

He was charged with unlawfully assaulting and causing harm to Enda Duffy of Annahia, Ballybay, and with using a broken pint-glass to assault Duffy, contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms Act.

At an earlier hearing, Judge McLoughlin said he was withdrawing from hearing the case against the former politician and said another judge would be required.

Yesterday, lawyer Mr. Gerry Jones of Carrickmacross, who was deputising for Mr. James McGuill, solicitor, Dundalk, said it appeared there was some difficulty in getting another judge for a special hearing and he suggested a further adjournment.

Mr. Jones suggested an adjournment of the case until a date in September or October, to enable a District Court judge to be found and the trial date set.

Judge McLoughlin adjourned case to a further sitting at Carrickmacross on October 5th next.

Mr. Conlan was not present in court for yesterday’s brief hearing.