Prosecution delay leads to bank theft charges being dropped

 

Charges brought against Coalisland man Ciaran Devlin relating to the alleged theft of £7,000 from a County Tyrone Ulster Bank branch have been dismissed at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court.
 
District Judge John Meehan made the decision following a submission by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that it was not ready to proceed as yet, without any further explanation as to reasons for the delay.
A trial date was due to be fixed at the hearing in Dungannon Magistrates’ Court, however, following the submission by the PPS the Judge stated that he had no option other than to dismiss the charges.
Belfast Criminal Solicitor Neil Logan commented:
 
“This case highlights an important issue with respect to the recent cut to criminal legal aid fees. The Public Prosecution Service has a duty to the public to conduct itself in an efficient and cost effective manner and that these charges have been dropped will have resulted in loss of money from what is already a limited resource.
 
“Local press have painted a somewhat bias opinion of the legal aid payments received by criminal Solicitors acting for Defendants. This incident shows a different side to that argument, with the prosecution being responsible for delaying the justice process. Such delays inevitably increase the levels of legal aid payable to Defendant’s representatives”.
If you have been charged with a criminal offence please contact one of the criminal Solicitors at Wilson Nesbitt in Belfast or Bangor on freephone 0800 840 0549 or via email at criminal@wilson-nesbitt.co.uk.

Charges brought against Coalisland man Ciaran Devlin relating to the alleged theft of £7,000 from a County Tyrone Ulster Bank branch have been dismissed at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court. District Judge John Meehan made the decision following a submission by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that it was not ready to proceed as yet, without any further explanation as to reasons for the delay.

A trial date was due to be fixed at the hearing in Dungannon Magistrates’ Court, however, following the submission by the PPS the Judge stated that he had no option other than to dismiss the charges.

Belfast Criminal Solicitor Neil Logan commented: 

"This case highlights an important issue with respect to the recent cut to criminal legal aid fees. The Public Prosecution Service has a duty to the public to conduct itself in an efficient and cost effective manner and that these charges have been dropped will have resulted in loss of money from what is already a limited resource.

 "Local press have painted a somewhat bias opinion of the legal aid payments received by criminal Solicitors acting for Defendants. This incident shows a different side to that argument, with the prosecution being responsible for delaying the justice process. Such delays inevitably increase the levels of legal aid payable to Defendant’s representatives".

If you have been charged with a criminal offence please contact one of the criminal Solicitors at Wilson Nesbitt in Belfast or Bangor on freephone 0800 840 0549 or via email at criminal@wilson-nesbitt.co.uk.

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