Assault causing serious harm trial adjourned

The trial of a Dublin man, charged with assault causing harm in Letterkenny eight years ago, was adjourned this morning to tomorrow after the Circuit Court heard that a key witness had been hospitalised.

Kenneth Broe of 15 Alderwood Green, Tallaght, faces charges of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Kristian Shortt at Flat 2, 53 Upper Main Street, Letterkenny, on October 9th, 2008.

He is further charged with unlawfully assaulting Mr Shortt on the same date and at the same address and with unlawful possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Monaghan Garda Station on October 10th, 2008, and with possession of a controlled drug for the purpose of selling or supplying on the same date.

Today’s sitting of the court heard that a witness central to the case for the prosecution and also for the defence had become unwell the previous day and had been hospitalised in the psychiatric unit at St Vincent’s Hospital in Fairview, Dublin.

Prosecuting counsel said it did not appear that the witness would be available to give evidence on the opening day and asked that the trial be adjourned to tomorrow, Wednesday, to enable Gardai to make further enquiries.

A jury was due to have been selected for the trial, which is scheduled to last three weeks, but the panel was requested to return tomorrow.

Judge John Hannon remanded the accused on bail to tomorrow’s sitting of the special Circuit Court.

Letterkenny Courthouse.

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