This article is from page 10 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE solicitor for a man accused of conspiring to murder two Ennis businessmen has asked is the State ‘buying time,’ after he heard that the Book of Evidence has not yet been completed.
Egyptian national, Essam Eid, with an address in Nevada, US, 1s ac- cused of conspiring to murder Ennis brothers Robert and Niall Howard, between August and September of last year.
Last September, Mr Eid was initial- ly charged with extorting €100,000 from Robert Howard. He was held in custody on that charge – and a number of other charges, including burglary and handling stolen prop- erty – until June 26 last, when that case was dropped.
He was released, but re-arrested minutes later and charged with con- spiracy to murder.
Sharon Collins (44), of Ballybeg House, Kildysart Road, Ennis, 1s also charged with conspiring to mur- der the Howard brothers. She is cur- rently on bail and will re-appear in oo) tN a me slo. empnelereiaee
Mr Eid has been in custody in Lim- erick prison on the new charges since June and gardai are currently prepar- ing the Book of Evidence.
At Ennis District Court yesterday
(Monday), Inspector Tom Kennedy sought an adjournment, to allow the Book to be completed.
Asked by defending solicitor John Casey what stage the Book was at, Inspector Kennedy replied,
“It is in the process of being pre- pared. . more than half way to be- ing available. Quite a number of extensive enquiries in relation to the charge before you come into play.”
He pointed out that while the ac- cused was initially charged last Sep- tember, the charge he is currently facing did not come before the court until June.
“The main plank of Mr Casey’s argument is this 1s going on since last September, when he was first charged. That is not the case,” said Inspector Kennedy.
The solicitor said he could not con- sent to an adjournment. He said his client has been in custody for almost a year.
“Now they are only half way through the Book of Evidence. Two months have passed. He is a non- national. He doesn’t have contacts in this country. Bail is proving ex- tremely difficult. How long is a piece of string?” he asked.
“Is the State buying time? Mr Eid is languishing in Limerick prison,” he said.
He said the accused is in ill health and his manner has deteriorated, over the past year.
“It cannot be open-ended. It’s not fair to him. He is innocent until proven guilty,” said Mr Casey.
Judge Leo Malone remanded the accused in custody to appear again in court next week.