Court challenge to summonses

Judge Dan Shields will be asked in Ballina District Court today to strike out a number of summonses, including drink driving …

Judge Dan Shields will be asked in Ballina District Court today to strike out a number of summonses, including drink driving related offences.

It has been claimed that the summonses were signed by an official in the Court Clerk's office before she had received an official letter of appointment from the Department of Justice in December and they are, therefore, invalid.

Prosecuting gardai will argue that it was in order for the official to sign the summonses as she had been officially transferred to the office at the time. It is understood that up to 18 summonses will be challenged.