Mayo judge accuses Dublin solicitor of leaving client 'in the lurch'

A MAYO judge described as 'contemptuous' the behaviour of a Dublin-based solicitor who left a client facing drugs charges unrepresented in court.

Judge Sandra Murphy made the comments in Castlebar District Court after hearing that a Dublin-based solicitor emailed a local solicitor five minutes before the start of court asking him to look after his client.

Anita Jevdokinoba with an address at 31 Silverbridge Apartments, Claremorris who faces drug charges told Judge Murphy that she was represented by John Shanley Solicitors but is looked after by barrister Christina Burke.

She explained that Ms Burke phoned her at 9pm the previous evening to say she would not be in court but would look to get someone else to look after her. However, there was nobody in court to represent her when her case was called.

Local solicitor, Gary Mulchrone also told Judge Murphy that he received an email at 10.25am that morning from John Shanley Solicitors saying they were not able to secure counsel to represent Ms Jevdokinoba and asked him to represent her. Mr Mulchrone said he did not appreciate the email and they were not satisfactory instructions for anyone to deal with.

Judge Murphy commented that the State is ready to go ahead with the case but Ms Jevdokinoba was left unrepresented and let down by her solicitor.

She said that the inadequate instructions left by her solicitors had left her extremely short and it was extraordinarily rude.

“It is contemptuous to the court and the gardaí and to the public for him not to appear today,” she commented.

“This lady has been left in the lurch by a solicitor in Dublin...I am shocked by this behaviour,” she added.

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Following a short adjournment, Mr Mulchrone told the court that after speaking to Ms Jevdokinoba he agreed to represent her and Gardaí had agreed to adjourn the hearing until May 6.

Judge Murphy commended Mr Mulchrone for agreeing to come on record for the defendant adding that it was very important that local solicitors are able to do this.

While noting that Mr Shanley had not formally come off record, she was satisfied that he no longer represented Ms Jevdokinoba and agreed to transfer legal aid to Mr Mulchrone.