Contempt of court hearing in Cameron Blair related case is adjourned

A contempt of court hearing concerning two witnesses has been adjourned until Friday at the Central Criminal Court. Darragh O'Connor, aged 20, of Cork, and Craig O'Donoghue, aged 20, of Killala, Cork, were arrested and are expected to face trial for contempt of court. The State alleges both men left the jurisdiction to avoid giving evidence in a trial related to violent disorder at a premises in Cork city. Mr O'Donoghue was served with a witness order in May but travelled to Ayia Napa at the end of that month and was unavailable to testify. Defence counsel informed the court that prison authorities could not facilitate consultations with the accused until 27 July, and that one defendant had presented with Covid-19 symptoms. Mr Justice David Keane ordered both men be produced on Friday at 10.30am. The hearing relates to a separate case in which a 16-year-old pleaded guilty to violent disorder; the Director of Public Prosecutions has since discontinued the knife production charge against him.