A man who made a statement to gardaí claiming that the former boyfriend of missing person Fiona Sinnott threatened to kill him may be treated as a hostile witness.
Seán Carroll (37) with an address of Ballycorboys, Broadway, Co Wexford, appeared before Wexford District Court yesterday.
He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Robert Pask on September 17th, 2005, at Grageen, Killinick, Co Wexford.
Defence solicitor Michael Lannigan said the witness the State proposed to call, Robert Pask, had now withdrawn the complaint and had done so by two statements witnessed by the Garda Síochána. He said there was now no admissible evidence that could be called.
Robert Pask told the court: "I'm surprised that I'm here today at all as I had withdrawn the allegation of my own free will. I have already dropped the charge and don't have to give evidence.
"I spoke with the gardaí before withdrawing the allegation as there has been a lot of extreme pressure because of the media intrusion and the effect this has had on me, my family and friends, and also the length of time the case has taken," he said.
When asked by Judge Donncadha Ó Buachalla if the complaint still stood, Mr Pask said: "I do not want to proceed."
When Judge Ó Buachalla said he saw no reason why the matter should not proceed, Insp Pat McDonald said the State would be making an application for leave of the court to treat Robert Pask as a hostile witness.
Judge Ó Buachalla said the case could not proceed yesterday. He adjourned the hearing until June 30th.