A Kerry District Court Judge has questioned the time it’s taking the DPP to instruct on the case of a woman accused of crystal meth possession.
Judge David Waters asked the state for the reasons for the delay at a recent court sitting.
He was presiding on the case of Anna Entrambasaguas of Knocknasartnett, Killarney, who faces seven charges.
The judge previously raised concerns in relation to delays in forensic testing of drugs for criminal court cases.
Anna Entrambasaguas is accused of the possession of crystal meth for sale or supply, the possession of forged driving licences, and a machine designed for making fake IDs.
Gardaí have previously alleged that she had all the items required for a meth lab in her Killarney home, and that she is heavily involved in the production of meth in this country.
The mother-of-one, who’s in her 40s was refused bail on three occasions, after the state objected due to the seriousness of the charges, the strength of evidence, and the fact that gardaí deemed her a flight risk.
She was granted High Court bail in May, after Judge David Waters had marked her case peremptory - which means it would proceed at the following sitting or else be struck out if the state wasn’t ready.
At a recent sitting in Tralee District Court, Sergeant Stephen O’Brien told the court that instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were not yet available.
Judge Waters questioned the delay and asked if any reason had been given for it; Sgt O’Brien advised he had received no indication at this time for the delay.
Ms Entrambasaguas’s solicitor Brendan Ahern confirmed his client is on bail and she did not need to be present in court for this hearing.
Judge Waters remanded her on continuing bail, to appear before Tralee District Court on July 16th for DPP directions.
