‘You haven’t the slightest notion of Irish law’ warns judge to New Ross man
ASSERTIONS by Madasiru Colin Bello (47) with an address at 40 Bellville in New Ross that he had legal qualifications did not impress Judge Gerard Haughton.
Bello came to the District Court sitting in Wexford on September 6 to learn his fate after being found guilty on a series of charges including threatening/abusive behaviour, criminal damage and assault on a previous occasion.
The defendant produced written submissions which the judge considered during the lunchbreak at the court complex in Ardcavan.
The judge emerged to tell Bello that the papers supplied were incomprehensible and irrelevant.
The defendant was told that, though he professed to be a solicitor, he appeared to have no grasp of Irish law or what the proceedings against him were about.
The judge warned that he was considering imposition of a jail term and suggested that a solicitor could be appointed to represent him, even at this late hour.
‘You have not the slightest notion of Irish law,’ spelled out the judge. ‘I am giving you the opportunity of getting legal representation.’
Bello nodded and the verdict was put back to September 20 to allow him nominate a solicitor from the free legal aid panel.
‘ Thank you, judge. God Bless,’ said the accused after the granting of the adjournment. THE Grow It Yourself (GIY) New Ross group celebrated their third year planting of the ‘Edible Quayside’ with a Harvest Basket contest and a Spud- Off competition recently.
The competitions were open to anyone who could bring along three boiled homegrown potatoes or a basket of their own homegrown produce.
Eamonn Moloughney won the Spud- Off because his British Queen potatoes were judged to be the best in taste, texture, smell and overall look.
May Cadogan from Campile won the Harvest Basket contest which was judged to be the best in variety, quality and display.
The judges were Sally Sweeney from GIY Tramore, Norman Wisdom from Fethard, and Charles Whelan from Dublin.
Some great gardening equipment prizes from the online quickcrop.ie garden shop were presented to Mr Moloughney and Ms Cadogan. A group of volunteer members from the GIY New Ross group have maintained the beds throughout the summer. People visited the harvest festival throughout the day, enjoying music, food and drinks. The group meets monthly in the New Ross Library and new members are welcome to join the next meeting on Tuesday, September 20, at 7 p.m. in New Ross Library. The talk that night will be on ‘Electing and Planting Fruit in your Garden’. Phone 086 8114997 or emailgiynewross@gmail.com for more information.