Lawyer proposes transferring case as no video link facilities in Co Kerry

John West, 53, appeared in Killorglin District Court yesterday on a charge of harassing two adults and one minor between February 2014 and January 2015.

Dan O’Connor, representing Mr West, told the court that the case could not be heard as scheduled because no courthouses in Co Kerry have a facility allowing minors to give evidence via video link, The Irish Times reports.

Mr O’Connor said: “The State will have to transfer the case. The entire county of Kerry has no facilities for video link.

“The Criminal Evidence Act is 24 years old and it doesn’t include Kerry because it has never been commenced because facilities are not in place.”

Killorglin also lacks consultation rooms where a minor could give evidence by way of deposition to a barrister.

Judge James O’Connor ordered that the minor should give evidence by deposition in nearby Killarney District Court and that an audio recording should be made.

A date of Tuesday 9 February was set for the deposition.