held up his hands and said yesterday: "It was my fault. I overslept.'' As the Crown Counsel snoozed, the minutes ticked up to his 9.30 a.m. Supreme Court appointment. And soon there were worries some mishap had befallen the Irishman.

With the clock hand approaching 10 a.m. Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward finally adjourned yesterday's hearing. "I don't have time to waste,'' he remarked.

Said defence attorney Mr. Richard Hector: "It's very strange. I hope nothing serious has happened.'' A red-faced Mr. Doorly later explained his absence to Mr. Ward and Mr. Hector.

"I set the alarm, but just overslept. I woke up with a start, realising I should have been at court,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

He added: "It's the first time anything like this has happened.'' The case involving 30-year-old Randolph Anthony Davis, of Foothills Road, Devonshire, was put off until December 1.

Davis yesterday denied possessing cannabis on December 24, 1991, with intent to supply.

But he admitted knowingly handling cannabis, misusing it, and possessing equipment used for the drug.

Mr. Diarmuid Doorly.