The trial of a Co Donegal man involved in one of Ireland’s most high-profile dangerous driving cases is scheduled to be heard today.
Shaun Kelly, who is charged with causing the deaths of eight people, has been adjourned a number of times.
Judge John O’Hagan has already expressed his “considerable disappointment” that the case has not gone ahead already.
All eight people, including seven of Kelly’s friends, were killed following a crash outside Clonmany in July, 2010.
Judge John O’Hagan had ordered the trial of Shaun Kelly to go ahead after a number of previous adjournments on February 4th.
However at the latest sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court two months ago before Judge Keenan Johnson, the court was told the trial was still not ready to go ahead.
The crash killed eight people
A number of family members of those killed in the crash have consistently turned up for the case.
Defence barrister Peter Nolan told the court at the last sitting that Kelly, 24, was not fit to plead.
He told the court that a psychological report had been made which he had just sent to the state barrister.
Judge Johnson adjourned the case until today with peremptory against the accused.
Judge John O’Hagan said later that he is determined that the case go ahead at the current sitting of the circuit court which starts today.
He said he was considerably disappointed that his colleague, Judge Johnson, was constrained from allowing the case to go ahead.
“I cannot emphasise strongly enough how anxious I am that it must proceed. This is a case that should go on,” he said.
The men who died in the crash on July 11th, 2010 were Hugh Friel (66), Urris, Clonmany, Eamon McDaid (22)of Ballymagan, Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin, (21) of Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19), of Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney (19), of Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), of Meenaduff, Clonmany and Damien McLaughlin (21), of Umricam, Buncrana.