A District Court judge has struck out a number of cases to cut down on the massive court list at Letterkenny District Court.
Faced with 802 cases at a sitting of Letterkenny District Court yesterday, Judge John O'Donnell warned that the facilities at the courthouse were "totally inadequate" to accommodate the defendants, solicitors, court staff and gardaí.
Judge O'Donnell is exasperated that his appeals for a second District Court judge have fallen on deaf ears.
Faced with what he described as "an impossible list" at yesterday's regular Letterkenny District Court sitting, Judge O'Donnell said he had hoped he would have a solution by Easter following a meeting with the regional manager of courts.
"I have outlined my proposals to the regional manager but nothing had been put in place. Now I must proceed to strike out matters.
"I do not take this course lightly, but there is nothing else I can do," said Judge O'Donnell.
The judge pointed out that he had written to Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell and to the chief executive officer of the Courts Service in early February and had not received a response.
Letterkenny's small District Court was packed to overflowing yesterday, with defendants forced to wait on the street.
Stating that there was an urgent need for more adequate facilities, Judge O'Donnell said he intended to keep regular court hours as opposed to previous marathon sittings he had embarked upon.
"At the heart of the problem is the appointment of more District Court judges," he said.
Speaking for the Bar Association, Peter Nolan BL expressed unreserved support for Judge O'Donnell's pleas and any application or course of action he chose to take in such difficult circumstances.
"This county has for many years been under-subscribed with adequate numbers of District Court judges.
"It is well known that the lists and workload in Donegal is unprecedented in this country and action should be taken," said Mr Nolan.