A trial which was due to last three weeks involving a Letterkenny father and daughter accused of more than 50 charges of illegal dumping will now not take place next month.
Jim and Louise Ferry were due to stand trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court in January, 20024.
Their case had been listed as a back-up trial to another case.
However, the case was mentioned at Donegal Circuit Court today and Judge John Aylmer was told that the defence team would not be in a position to proceed in January.
Barrister for the Ferrys, Ms Kelda Doherty BL, told Judge Aylmer that there are ‘a number of matters’ relating to disclosure that are still outstanding.
“It is not realistic to have all matters ready for January 23,” Ms Doherty said in applying for the hearing date to be vacated.
Judge Aylmer said it was ‘unfortunate as the opportunity for a three-week trial is rare enough’.
Judge Aylmer granted the application.
Jim Ferry (63) and his daughter Louise (32), both of Slieve Sneacht Road, Letterkenny are charged in relation to the alleged dumping by their company, Ferry’s Refuse Recycling Ltd, on lands owned by Mr Ferry at Rossbracken, Letterkenny.
Books of evidence have already been served on the accused.
Jim Ferry faces 41 charges of illegal dumping under the Waste Management Act at Rossbracken, Letterkenny.
Charges allege that he held, disposed of, or treated waste in a manner that caused or was likely to cause environmental pollution.
Included among the charges are that he failed to comply with a notice issued by Donegal County Council in 2017 which was issued to stop him holding or disposing of waste on the site.
Mr Ferry is charged as being a director of Ferry’s Refuse Recycling Limited and also as the registered owner of the lands at Rossbracken.
Mr Ferry’s daughter, Louise Ferry, faces ten charges, relating to offences under the Waste Management Act, covering a period between 2014 and 2017.
Ms Ferry is charged that on different dates, and as a director of the company, she was responsible for waste being disposed of on lands at Rossbracken that was likely to cause pollution.