A judge's order for a girl to be psychologically assessed after she was charged in connection with the fatal assault of Scarlett Faulkner has yet to be carried out seven weeks after the order was made, a court has heard.
The 16-year old accused is charged with assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, 29, at the R494 Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on 21 March last.
Judge Marie Keane, Nenagh District Court, said today that she had made an order on 1 April for a psychological assessment to be carried out in respect of the accused girl.
The accused girl appeared today before Nenagh District Court via a video-link accompanied by "care staff" at a youth detention centre.
Sergeant Adrian Whelan, Nenagh Garda Station, said a garda investigation file, in respect to the girl’s alleged involvement in the assault on Ms Faulkner, had been "forwarded" to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
An application by Sgt Whelan for a four-week adjournment, consented to by the girl’s solicitor John Herbert, Herbert & Co Sols, Limerick, was granted by Judge Keane.
Mr Herbert told Judge Keane the psychological assessment on the accused girl was "still awaited".
Mr Herbert assured the judge he was making enquiries through a number of psychologists to arrange the psychological evaluation on the girl.
"I’ve been in contact with two psychologists and I will be speaking to a third," Mr Herbert told the court.
Judge Keane replied that, in her view, it has "always" been "exceptionally slow" to arrange and process psychological assessment reports for the courts.
The accused girl spoke only to confirm her name and that she could hear and see the proceedings.
A co-accused 40-year-old woman also appeared before the court today.
The woman, who is charged with violent disorder, endangerment and burglary, appeared before Judge Keane via a video-link from a remand prison.
The judge granted a similar application by Sergeant Whelan and consented to by the woman’s solicitor Pauric Nesbitt, Darach McCarthy & Co Solicitors, Limerick, for a four week adjournment.
Judge Keane remanded the accused girl and accused woman in continuing custody to appear before Nenagh District Court again on 12 June for directions from the DPP.
