Man (61) convicted of sexual assault and is fined €1

A 61-year-old man has been convicted of sexual assault and fined €1.

That order was made in respect of a defendant who the previous week paid €15,000 compensation into court for his victim, aged 16 at the time of the offence which occurred at an address in Drogheda on 19 November, 2017, when the young lady was babysitting.

At that hearing, Judge Coughlan was told the girl’s parents felt the imposition of a conviction and an entry in the Sexual Offenders’ Register represented a sufficient penalty. They didn’t want the man to go to jail.

On that occasion, the judge said he was of a mind to convict the defendant and apply the probation act.

However, solicitor James Allen, on behalf of the victim and her family, wanted to make sure that the defendant would still go on the register with such an order.

The judge adjourned the case to last week for clarification on that issue.

He recorded a conviction and imposed a €1 fine, which means the man’s name will go on the Sexual Offenders’ Register. Jurisdiction refused

The district court has refused jurisdiction in the case of a 37-year-old man accused of a €5,000 jewellery theft.

Anthony Garvey, Moneymore, is charged with an offence alleged to have occurred from a car in Fair Street, Drogheda, on 29 October, 2016.

The matter was adjourned to 8 February next for a book of evidence.