The case against an official of the Missouri firefighters' union, charged with a road traffic offence after colliding with the state car of Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív, may be challenged because of an error on the Garda charge sheet, it has emerged.
Up to 20 summonses were adjourned at Killarney District Court yesterday because of ambiguity concerning title of the court area.
Many cases in district number 17 - the area extending from Dingle to Waterville and on to Tralee have been adjourned in recent weeks.
Judge James O'Connor who adjourned the cases has said the title on the cover sheet "District Court Number 17" raised a question concerning jurisdiction.
He said there was no such thing as "district court number 17" but "district number 17" was the proper designation. He said the matter needed clarification.
At the judge's request, solicitor Pádraig O'Connell is to take a consultative case stated to the High Court on the basis of the insertion on some summonses of the word "court" after District and before number 17.
John Corbett (56), West Park Avenue, St Louis, Missouri, US, has been summonsed on a charge of driving in a manner dangerous to the public under the Road Traffic Acts on November 15th, 2004, at Torc, Muckross, Killarney.
The rented car which he was driving collided with Mr Ó Cuív's car.
Mr Corbett's solicitor, Eoin Brosnan, told the court previously his client was very ill from injuries arising from the accident. His wife, Terri Corbett (45), was also injured.