*Clarecastle
THE TRIAL of a Clarecastle man charged with a serious drug dealing offence and careless driving causing serious bodily harm has been adjourned.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford adjourned the trial of Odhran O’Brien (32) of Clare Abbey, Clarecastle following a successful application by counsel for the accused, Lorcan Connolly SC.
Mr Connolly (instructed by solicitor, John Casey) told Judge Comerford that he was seeking an adjournment as he was looking for the legal aid certificate to be extended to cover two new reports for the defence.
Mr Connolly said that concerning the charge of careless driving causing serious bodily harm, he was seeking extension of the medical report by the treating physician of the accused on January 15th 2023.
Mr Connolly said, “I don’t want to go into details of the case but it is somewhat of an unusual background to the matter”.
Mr Connolly said that Mr O’Brien was conveyed from a location to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on the date.
Mr Connolly said that after taking instructions from his client on the matter, he is also seeking to retain the services of an engineer to provide a report in relation to the careless driving causing bodily harm charge.
Judge Comerford said that the content of the report can’t be proven by reports but by testimony.
Judge Comerford said that he would extend the legal aid certificate to cover the cost of both reports.
In the case, Mr O’Brien is charged with at Edenvale, Ennis on January 15th 2023 of unlawfully in his possession cannabis, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another with a market value amounting to €13,000 or more. The charge is contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977
Mr O’Brien is also charged with on January 15th at Edenvale, Ennis, of driving a 14 DL registered vehicle without due care and attention, causing serious bodily harm to Ajet Haziri, contrary to section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Judge Comerford adjourned the case to March 5th for a call over of cases.
