Vol. 451 No. 8
208 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in the commencement of prosecutions arising from a robbery (details supplied) in Sandymount, Dublin 4, on 3 August 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7531/95]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that two persons were charged in Dublin District Court on 5 August 1994, arising from the incident in question. On 18 August, the accused appeared before Dublin District Court — they had previously been before the Court on 11 August — and both elected to go forward to trial.
A preliminary file was forwarded by gardaí to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 17 September. A completed investigation file was forwarded to the DPP on 13 October. Any delay which may have occured in submitting these files was due to the absence on sick leave of the investigating Garda — who had been injured — from 25 August to 27 September. I will be pursuing this aspect of the matter further with the Garda authorities.
The directions of the DPP were received on 31 March 1995. Before the directions had been received, however, the case was dismissed on 3 November 1994, due to the failure to produce a Book of Evidence by that date. The DPP has directed that one of the two persons should be recharged and this is due to take place on 25 April. The second person is not being recharged due to lack of evidence.
