A GARDA superintendent and a doctor have been ordered to appear at the Central Criminal Court on Friday in an issue which Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen said was "bordering on contempt".
The case involves a Garda witness in a rape trial which had been provisionally scheduled ruled to start yesterday. The garda is off duty due to a medical complaint.
Last Friday a prosecution request to have the case adjourned due to the unavailability of the Garda witness was rejected by Mr Justice Geoghegan. The judge was not satisfied with the medical certificate produced and sought information. He directed the case should be listed yesterday before Mr Justice Kinlen.
But yesterday Mr Justice Kinlen noted the court had not been provided with further evidence about the witness's health, or a new and fuller medical certificate. He directed that a Garda superintendent and the doctor should appear next Friday before him to explain the issue, which he said was "bordering on contempt".
A new date for the trial is to be set tomorrow.