Judge baffled by request for four legal aid solicitors for man on drugs charges

A judge wanted to know why a solicitor wanted legal aid for four solicitors in the case where a man was allegedly found with four different types of drugs. 

Sean Maloney (27) of Ballywaltrim Heights, Killarney Road, Bray, Co Wicklow is accused of possession and possession for sale or supply of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and alprazolam for sale or supply at Portlaoise Prison on December 21, 2023.

Judge Nicola Andrews asked solicitor Aonghus McCarthy why his client needed “four solicitors” for the case. 

Mr McCarthy said his client- who had prior to the sittings been represented by Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald- was facing “four separate drug dealing allegations” as he requested legal aid on each of the four Section 15 sale or supply drug charges. 

Judge Andrews said Mr Fitzgerald had only been assigned on one simple possession charge in the same case. 

Mr McCarthy said the defendant was not at risk in relation to the simple possession charge. He said the accused would be at risk in relation to each of the Section 15 charges. 

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“We have separate solicitors in the office who would do the work,” he said. 

“Mr Fitzgerald previously had this case. He had an assignment in respect of one of them and now I am transferring that to you,” said Judge Andrews. 

Mr McCarthy said there were “four separate Section 15 drug dealing allegations” and he said he can’t simply work on the one assigned charge. 

“We would be doing cases two, three and four for nothing essentially,” he told Judge Andrews. 

Judge Andrews said all of the charges arose from one incident on one date. She asked Mr McCarthy to make a submission in relation to the legal aid application for the next date. 

She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on December 2, 2024.