A court case into the deaths of eight people in Ireland’s worst ever car accident could take up to three weeks, a court heard today.
The only survivor of the crash in Co Donegal was due to appear at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Shaun Kelly, 24, is charged with causing the deaths of the people through dangerous driving after the crash in July 2010.
However barrister for Mr Kelly, Peter Nolan, said they were not ready to go ahead with the case
He said he needed two further reports – one from an engineer and another from a metallurgist
“This is a serious case and we can’t leave any stone unturned,” he said.
He also sought to have the cars involved in the horrific road smash to be examined in greater detail.
In another application he said he was also seeking to have pieces of the cars removed for examination.
Mr Nolan said that a number of issues had arisen which needed to be addressed.
He added that he would not be holding up the trial if he did not think the new information was vital.
Shaun Kelly of Hill Road, Ballymagan, Buncrana has already appeared in court on a number of occasions. He faces a charge of dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men, at Meenaduff between Clonmany and Buncrana on the Inishowen peninsula, on July 11th, 2010.
The men who died in the two- vehicle crash were Hugh Friel (66), Urris, Clonmany; Mark McLaughlin (21), Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19), Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciarán Sweeney (19), Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), Meenaduff, Clonmany; Eamon McDaid (22), Ballymagan, Buncrana, and Damien McLaughlin (21), Umricam, Buncrana.
The case is expected to begin at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court in January.