The case of a man charged with causing the deaths of eight people in an horrific car crash three-and-a-half years ago has been adjourned after a court was told he was still undergoing psychiatric assessment.
The Volkswagen Passat in which seven of the dead were travelling.
Shaun Kelly (24), Hillhead, Buncrana is charged with causing the deaths in the collision at Drumfries, Inishowen, on 11 July 2010.
His case was due to begin at Letterkenny Circuit Court today but was adjourned after defence barrister Peter Nolan informed the court the accused was still receiving psychiatric assessment.
State barrister Patricia McLaughlin also told the court they had just been furnished with a psychiatric report for Mr Kelly which they needed to examine. Other engineering reports were also being examined.
Judge Keenan Johnston questioned why the case could not go ahead considering the psychiatric report had been sanctioned in 2012.
Ms McLaughlin told the court the prosecution had only received an updated psychiatric report (dated 22 January 21014) last night.
Mr Nolan said he was acting on instructions in the best interest of his client, who he said, was “entitled to a fair trial.”
Expressing his “disquiet” at the delay, Judge Keenan said there were a lot of parties who were emotionally involved and that it was of great distress to them that the case could not proceed.
He adjourned the case until 1 April next with peremptory against the accused.
The men who died in the crash were: Hugh Friel (66), Urris, Clonmany; Eamon McDaid (22), Ballymagan, Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin, (21), Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19), Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney (19), Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), Meenaduff, Clonmany and Damien McLaughlin (21), Umricam, Buncrana.
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