Judge warns state to expedite case against man on military service overseas

The state have been told to ready a case of criminal damage taken against a man on military service in Poland or risk having it thrown out.

Nikolai Springer (18) of 83 Abbeylands, Mullingar, Westmeath, was absent from last Thursday’s sitting of Mullingar District Court. He faces two counts of criminal damage at Mullingar Garda Station on January 3, 2026.

The accused was also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulating behaviour at Pearse Street, Mullingar, on the same date and failing to comply with a direction given by Garda Sheanagh Carroll under Section 8 of the Public Order Act.

In defence, solicitor Louis Kiernan said his client was in Poland on military service duty, adding he was in receipt of evidence of Mr Springer’s anticipated return flight home in the following days.

Sgt Sheila Kenny said directions from the DPP were not yet to hand.

Judge Bernadette Owens remanded the case to Mullingar District Court on May 28 for DPP directions and said she would be marking the file as one of “time passing”.

She ordered any available state disclosure to be handed over to Mr Kiernan over the intervening period.