Spared jail if he carries out community service

A RIVERCHAPEL man has been spared jail at the district court, provided he completes 80 hours of community service.

Keith Geraghty, also known as Keith Royal (31) of 26 Beachside Rise, Riverchapel, had been in custody on the charges he was facing which included possession of a blade at Lower John Street on June 26 of last year, possession of €150 worth of cannabis at Market Square, Gorey, on April 28 of 2014 and €10 worth of cannabis at Castlebridge on January 8, 2014.

Sgt Victor Isdell told the court that for the most recent charge, the defendant was in possession of a multi-tool with a pointed blade. When stopped by gardaí, he first claimed that he was a carpenter and then a mechanic, neither of which turned out to be true.

Solicitor Ed King said that his client was an out of work PC Technician and had been in custody since September. He asked the leniency of the court and said that his client had a five yearold son. Judge John Cheatle asked if the defendant was prepared to do community service and when he said yes, he handed down 80 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison.