Protesting at the chaotic court lists, visiting District Court Judge Tom Fitzpatrick struck out 15 cases at Letterkenny yesterday.
Drink-driving, assault and public order cases were among the 15 cases struck out by the judge as he criticised the lack of support for judges and practitioners in the District Courts.
Judge Fitzpatrick said many of the cases had been on the list too long, with a large number before the court on the ninth adjournment.
"This has been going on too long. If the parties are not fit to run the system efficiently and they won't consult with judges or the District Court clerk to see how chaotic the system is, then I will strike out cases. It is the only way to clear the list because many of these will never be heard.
"They don't seem to have any interest in the District Court at all.
"A lot of major towns around the country are facing chaos in the District Court, but nowhere is as bad as here [ Letterkenny]," the judge said.
Insp Michael Finan pointed out that with each case being struck out there were victims attached and people who had been wronged.
Judge Fitzpatrick invited everyone affected to write to the Court Services.
"I invite everybody to make a complaint to the authorities. If enough pressure is applied then maybe they will do something."
Objecting to the growing number of drink-driving cases being struck out, Insp Finan pointed out that many delays were caused by the defence seeking an inspection of the intoxilyser machine and then not taking the opportunity to do so.
Solicitor Kieran O'Gorman said Judge O'Donnell was faced with 820 cases on the last occasion at the court and managed to struggle through 300 cases. He said that to allow the two minutes allotted to even mention each of the 200-plus cases on the list would take to 6.30pm.