A judge has refused to strike out charges against an assistant professor of archaeology at UCD after a defence application made on foot of a late book of evidence.
Stephen Davis (53), who is originally from England but now resides in Bray, Co. Wicklow, faces 148 charges related to what the prosecution says is a “technical investigation” into alleged breaches of students’ private information.
The 148 charges include 96 counts of unlawfully and intentionally accessing an information system, 51 counts of harassment involving over 50 victims, and 1 count of unlawfully using software to access an information system.
This morning, before Judge Karen Dowling, the State requested another short remand, saying that the book of evidence was still not ready to be served but would be so in no more than one week’s time.
Counsel for Davis argued that the matter had been going on for three years and requested a strike-out on the basis that his client had attended court on three occasions; however, Judge Dowling, seeing the “over 100 sheets”, said that it would not be appropriate to strike out the charges.
With the court hearing that the book of evidence will “definitely” be ready in two weeks, Davis was remanded on continuing bail to appear again on the 13th of November.