A judge has warned charges against a man accused of murdering a Limerick child could be struck out due to the failure of the prosecution to submit the book of evidence.
Mr Patrick Slattery, (23) of Garryglass Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, was appearing yesterday before Judge Tom O' Donnell at Limerick District Court.
He is charged with the murder of Katelyn Ryan (4), of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick on April 8th. She died at Crumlin Children's Hospital two days after an arson attack at her home in which she suffered horrific burns.
Her year-old sister, Leah, and her mother, Jackie, also suffered serious injuries in the blaze which gutted the Ryan family home.
Mr Slattery also faces an arson charge in connection with the fire-bomb attack.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Ted McCarthy, said today it was "outrageous" that the book of evidence had not yet been produced in the case. He told the court that his client had been held in continuing custody since last April.
Judge Tom O'Donnell remanded the accused in custody to appear before the court again on September 10th.
The judge warned that the charges would be struck out unless the book of evidence was ready two weeks after that date.