The owners of a Co Wicklow nursing home from which an elderly woman, Maura Reynolds, went missing 18 months ago, appeared in court yesterday in relation to alleged breaches of the Nursing Home (Care and Welfare) Regulations.
Paul and Anne Costello of the Tara Care Centre, Putland Road, Bray, were before Bray District Court to face legal proceedings being taken against them by the Health Service Executive.
They were summonsed for failing to ensure that suitable and sufficient care was provided to maintain the welfare and wellbeing of dependent persons in the home and with failing to ensure a sufficient number of competent staff were on duty at all times at the home between December 20th and December 26th, 2005.
They were summonsed for similar offences and additional offences on or about May 9th, 2006.
No evidence was heard in the case yesterday.
Legal representatives for the defendants asked for the case to be adjourned to July 27th and said it would take only about half an hour on that date.
But Judge Murrough Connellan said that was the last day of term and that he was adjourning it instead to September 21st. "If there is a plea it will be heard on that date," he said.
Maura Reynolds (78) disappeared on the night of Christmas Day 2005 and was never found after a search which concentrated on the seafront area in Bray. She is now presumed dead.