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Judge expresses disappointment after Public Prosecution Service gets title wrong

High Court judge Donnell Deeny
High Court judge Donnell Deeny High Court judge Donnell Deeny

ONE of the north’s most senior judges has expressed his “disappointment” after the Public Prosecution Service got his job title wrong.

In a recent letter a senior official referred to Mr Justice Donnell Deeny as a County Court judge, which normally presides over a lower court.

In a reply, the judge wrote: “It is a little disappointing after 12 years in the High Court that the Public Prosecution Service think I am a County Court judge, as your letter conveys.”

The PPS had written to the judge after he asked it to explain delays in bringing loyalist Mark Harbinson to trial.

Harbinson (49) faces a weapons charge linked to the discovery of a semi-automatic pistol, silencer, bullets and balaclavas during searches at his Sheepwalk Road address in Lisburn, Co Antrim, last year.

His solicitor Aiden Carlin says that since then his case has been listed for mention in court 19 times.

In his response to the PPS letter, the judge offered a sharp rebuke over the delay.

“I note your admission that the delay in allocating this file is 'completely unacceptable',” he wrote.

“I am glad that you have set out an explanation for the matter but I am sure you will agree that it does not reflect well in the Public Prosecution Service.

“I trust that you and the director will be taking steps to prevent a recurrence of the delay.”

Mr Carlin said his client will now make a fresh application for bail.

A PPS spokesperson said: “We have written to Mr Justice Deeny to explain the short delay in this case.

“We have also outlined the steps taken to address the issues relating to this isolated case to ensure that this will not occur again.

“We acknowledge the administrative error in the correspondence concerning Mr Justice Deeny’s title and have assured him that the PPS is fully aware of his status as a High Court judge and no offence was intended.”