The Westlife singer Bryan McFadden had a case involving a number of motoring charges adjourned until October when he appeared at Balbriggan Court yesterday.
He had been served with three summonses alleging speeding, careless driving and driving without reasonable consideration at Rowan's Big, Balbriggan, Co Dublin on September 23rd, 2002.
When the case was called, Mr McFadden's barrister, Mr Kieran Kelly, asked that it be left until later in the list; it subsequently emerged that the defendant and his wife, Kerry McFadden, had initially gone to the courthouse in Swords. After they arrived, the couple sat at the back of the courtroom.
Garda Supt Tom Gallagher told Judge Bryan Smyth that a prosecution witness would not be available for another two months and asked for an adjournment. Mr Kelly said that while he appreciated the situation, the first time he was made aware of it was yesterday morning.
The case dated back one and a half years and the statements in it were only received last week. Given the delay so far and the fact that his client was there to meet the case, he asked that it be struck out. Judge Smyth said he would not do that.
Mr Kelly said that the singer was going on tour today for six months and would be unavailable, and he did not want him to be victimised by the delay. He was not contributing to the delay.
Judge Smyth said that if he was going on tour he would be contributing to the delay. He adjourned the case to Balbriggan Court on October 28th.