A report into the dismissal of assault charges against a garda's son in Co. Roscommon is expected to be ready by the end of the week, according to the Department of Justice, writes Paul Cullen.
The case was raised by Fine Gael in the Dail last week. The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, ordered Department officials and the Gardai to carry out separate inquiries after he received conflicting information on the case.
The District Court clerk, Mr Aidan Cashin, who handled the case, has said in a letter to the Department that he was instructed by Judge Bernard Brennan to enter the case on the list for last January although it had been listed for February.
But in his letter Mr Cashin said at the previous hearing in December 1998, Judge Brennan had invited the defence and prosecution lawyers to make written submissions on the case and had said he would give his decision on these in January.
A separate Garda inquiry is being conducted by Chief Supt John Carey, but it is not known when this will be completed.