Bunclody man is given ‘one final chance’

A BUNCLODY man was given ‘one final chance’ by Judge Haughton at the District Court last week as he was granted bail on a litany of charges.

Aidan Smyth ( 24) of Gurteen, Bunclody, was brought before the court on foot of a number of bench warrants and was also due to face a charge of assault dating from October 25 of last year at Harrington Bookmakers in Bunclody.

Gardaí said that they were objecting to bail on the grounds that Smyth had taken a large number of warrants in the past.

However, Solicitor Mark Quinn stated that his client’s circumstances had changed dramatically in the past three weeks, with Smyth taking up employment on a site in Dun Laoghaire, meaning he was up for work every morning at 5 a. m. and didn’t return home until 6 p. m.

Mr Quinn said that if the court was minded to grant bail, Smyth’s mother would drive him to the garda station three times a week to sign on and would remain of clean and sober habits.

Smyth’s mother, Mrs Karen Smyth took to the stand to say that she would lodge a sum of € 200 independent surety and would undertake to bring her son to the garda station to sign on as required.

Sgt Gary Rayner quizzed Mrs Smyth on difficulties she had with her son in the past and noted that she had taken out a domestic violence order against him.

Despite this, Mrs Smyth said she believed her son had turned over a new leaf and said she would do her ‘ utmost’ to ensure that he complied with any bail conditions.

Upon hearing all the submissions, Judge Gerard Haughton agreed to grant bail, with a € 200 lodgement and with conditions that the defendant sign on Saturday and Sunday between 9 p. m. and 10 p. m., be contactable by phone, reside with his mother and obey a curfew between 11 p. m. and 5 a. m.

‘ This is his last chance as far as I’m concerned in relation to bail,’ Judge Haughton said, before adjourning everything back to December 5.