Shortage of judges delays trial date for Seán Conlan

A case in which a former TD faces charges of assault has been adjourned at Carrickmacross District Court due to a shortage of judges.

Seán Conlan, former Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan, is charged, under Section 11 of the Firearms Act, with the alleged use of a broken pint glass during an incident at Conlan’s famiy-owned pub in Ballybay, Co Monaghan, on August 23rd 2015. He is also charged with assaulting and causing harm to Enda Duffy of Annahia, Ballybay.

The 41-year-old politician, of Main Street, Ballybay, resigned from Fine Gael last November, and ran as an independent in the general election, but failed to retain his seat.

In May, Judge Denis McLoughlin, excluded himself from presiding at the full hearing of the case, having considered the issue of jurisdiction.

At a brief hearing on Wednesday, solicitor Gerry Jones, acting as agent for Mr Conlan’s defence lawyer, James MacGuill, told the court there had been some difficulties in fixing a date for the hearing of the case, “because of a shortage of judges”. He asked for an adjournment.

The judge adjourned the case to October 5th, for mention, and Mr Conlan was remanded on continuing bail of €100.