Longford District Court Judge critical of avoidance tactics

Two men charged with having impeded a Garda during the course of his duty have been ordered to re-appear before Longford District Court on March 10. The charges arose from an incident which occurred on December 21, 2024, at Annaly car park in Longford. 

Mr Pierre Stokes stands accused of having unlawfully obstructed Garda John Hanley as he attempted to carry out a drug search. According to the charge, when Mr Stokes ‘was informed of a search under the Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act, he took off running and when apprehended, he passed a package to the co accused’. 

Courts: Longford woman's alcohol theft charges "speak for themselves" says Judge 

His co-accused, Mr Tom Stokes, also stands accused of having unlawfully obstructed Garda Hanley in that when informed of a Section 23 search under the Misuse of Drugs Act, he allegedly ‘took off running and received a package from co-accused and continued running from Gardaí and absconded’.

Solicitor Mr John Anderson went off record to discuss with Judge Bernadette Owens a matter concerning files being provided to another solicitor. “I don’t know if the state is in a position to proceed in any event today,” he said. 

Inspector Declan McGlynn told the court that the state was in a similar position as ‘Detective Sergeant Charles is an essential witness in this prosecution and he is in the Circuit Court in Dublin’.  

In response, Judge Owens said she would adjourn the matter on the basis outlined by Inspector McGlynn, and delivered a stark warning to anyone attempting to engage in avoidance tactics.

Courts: Longford father and son appear in court on fraud charges 

Judge Owens commented, “As far as I’m concerned, when a case is listed for hearing, it seems to me, and I see it as, a method of trying to avoid a case going ahead by moving it from one solicitor to another. Defendants do it time and time again.”  

The Judge added, “The only reason this is not going ahead is not because the defendants have instructed a new solicitor, it’s because Sergeant Charles is not available.”

Judge Owens said the matter would not proceed that day and instead listed it for mention on March 10.