Church assault trial affected by legal aid dispute - News - Roscommon Herald

The case came before Mullingar Circuit Court

The man's trial has been delayed due to the ongoing withdrawal of services by solicitors.

A man charged with allegedly seriously assaulting a woman in her 30s at a church in Athlone last year has had his trial delayed due to the ongoing withdrawal of services by solicitors.

Sean Bailey (62), of Hyde Court, Roscommon, appeared before Judge Cephas Power at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, charged with assault causing serious harm to a woman at the Corpus Christi Church, Connaught Gardens, Athlone, on September 12th, 2025.

Judge Power noted there were no instructions in the case due to the ongoing industrial action, which sees solicitors withdrawing their services from courts across the country due to a dispute in changes to the legal aid payment scheme.

Mr Bailey’s case is one of a long number of cases which have been adjourned at Mullingar Circuit Court due to the withdrawal of services. He was remanded on continuing bail to October 6th.