DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP

From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse

Woman charged with stealing alcohol

A judge told a woman to put her best foot forward after she was charged with stealing alcohol from a Sligo supermarket.

Jessica McLaughlin (37), of 17 Yeats Drive, Cranmore, was before Sligo District Court on Thursday last.

The court heard how Garda Carter was called to the Tesco supermarket on September 23, 2021, at Wine Street, Sligo, where CCTV footage was viewed of an incident that took place on August 24, 2021.

Two women were observed taking alcohol to the value of €62. Ms McLaughlin was identified and gardaí cautioned her.

Sergeant Fergal Flynn told the court the accused had 13 previous convictions – at least two for theft. Defending solicitor, Gerard McGovern told Judge Sandra Murphy his client had her own difficulties and there was a lot she didn’t remember as she was badly addicted to alcohol.

He said she had a number of children from whom she was estranged. She abused alcohol but when she wasn’t drinking, she was a nice stand-up woman.

Judge Murphy inquired had the money been paid back to Tesco. Mr McGovern said it hadn’t been recovered.

The judge asked if the woman could put her best foot forward and repay the money.

She assured the judge she could re-pay it within the week. The charge was put forward to May 6 for finalisation.

Client’s past “travelled with him” solictor says

A man with 12 previous convictions, mainly for public order offences, who was shouting at Gardaí outside a Sligo bar, was told he would have to address his issues when he appeared before Sligo District Court. Sergeant Fergal Flynn said gardaí observed Kenneth O’Hanlon outside the Garavogue Bar at the Stephen Street car-park on April 9, 2022, at 2.30am.

He was highly intoxicated and unsteady on his feet and was shouting at them. He was directed to leave the area. However, he returned a few minutes later.

He was subsequently arrested by Garda Bourke at Sligo Garda Station. Gerard McGovern, solicitor for the defendant Kenneth O’Hanlon, from Mullingar, said the accused had travelled from Mullingar and had money to offer a charity donation in lieu of a conviction.

In response to confirmation that his client had 12 previous convictions, his solicitor said his client’s past had travelled with him and he knew he needed to address things. Judge Sandra Murphy said she was concerned O’Hanlon had several convictions mainly for public order offences going back a long time.

She said the man had to address his issues and there should be a recorded conviction for the Sligo offence.

Intoxicated man told Gardai to “f*** off”

A Sligo man who swore at Gardaí, telling them they were w ****** and to f *** off was, in fact, a “nice man” behind the drink, a solicitor told Judge Sandra Murphy at Sligo District Court last week.

Before the court was Elliot 086 816 5325 / 087 256 9959

Wrenne, from Wolfe Tone Street, Sligo, who was charged with intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Lord Edward Street.

The court heard how, at 10.25pm on June 6, 2021, Gardaí found Wrenne at the scene intoxicated and shouting and roaring.

He was highly agitated and verbally abusive towards gardaí, telling them they were ******* and to **** off.

Defending solicitor, Mr Gerard McGovern told the court Wrenne had been in an argument that night with his father.

His father had always “stood by him”, taken him under his wing and got him a job working for him. He said he was a “nice young man behind the drink”.

Wrenne told Judge Sandra Murphy he had a big problem with alcohol.

He said he was now doing good and

Sligo Courthouse. was back working as a lay man on building sites with another firm. He said he drank some months and others not and was last drinking heavily about two or three months ago.

Defending solicitor, Gerard McGovern said he told his client it wasn’t a good situation for him to be in and said he had apologised to his father and to the court.

He had also assured the solicitor he was now on good terms with his dad.

The court also heard his first offence was on December 17, 2017. The judge said the intervening period was of concern to her particularly around this drinking. Mr McGovern assured her the young man was not an alcoholic, but drank a lot and asked her to take a chance on him.

Judge Murphy told Wrenne: “If you’ve an addictive personality, you’ll be back in court – we’re doing you no favour if we let you off today.” She added his swearing at gardaí “concerned” her. She adjourned sentencing pending the preparation of a probation report.

Motorist, 37, receives a driving ban of four years

A woman who was driving for two years with no tax or insurance was put off the road for four years. In court was defendant Siobhan Beattie (37), Castlegrove, Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

Sligo District Court heard gardaí stopped Beattie’s orange vehicle at Greyfield, Keash. She was found to be driving without a tax disc or an insurance policy.

She had six previous convictions, the court was told, her most recent for driving without insurance on September 17, 2020.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, said his client had fully co-operated with gardaí.

She was a young, decent and respectable woman who was working reduced hours. He said she had difficulties at the time and had a block in relation to this.

He assured Judge Sandra Murphy his client did realise she was facing a lengthy disqualification, and now knew her vehicle needs to be fully licenced, taxed and insured.

He said she was no longer driving. He furnished a letter from his client to the judge explaining her situation. A GP’s letter was also submitted in court.

The judge fined Beattie €250 with three months to pay and disqualified her from driving for four years for driving with no insurance.

On the driving without a licence charge, she fined her €150. She told her she would “not get another chance in this court”. There was no objection from the state.

Man charged with assault apologised for incident

A man who came before Judge Sandra Murphy last Thursday at Sligo District Court charged with an assault on Brian McCormack on Wednesday, April 27, said the incident was “a mix-up”.

Daniel McLoughlin (40), of 1 Joe McDonnell Drive, Cranmore, Sligo, was arrested, cautioned and made no reply.

When cautioned again, he said: “It was a mix-up and I apologise.” Defending solicitor, Gerard McGovern, had no questions, no objection to bail and was granted legal aid on behalf of his client. Bail conditions were agreed with the Gardaí and Judge Murphy remanded the accused on bail until May 26.

Gardai carried out regular checkpoints on roads when travel restrictions were in place due to the pandemic.

A ROSCOMMON man was convicted at Sligo District Court for breach of Covid-19 regulations during a level five lockdown. Ioan Muntean (32), Brooklawn Estate, Castlerea Road, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, was charged with leaving his place of residence contrary to Covid-19 regulations at Lisbaleely, Gurteen, on January 21, 2021.

Garda Murphy, Ballymote Garda Station, testified that

he and Garda Ronan Currid stopped Muntean’s Mercedes car.

The man told him he was giving a friend a lift home to Gurteen from Ballaghaderreen. Judge Sandra Murphy convicted him and imposed a fine of €100 with three months to pay.

At the same court, a nurse working in Scotland was before Sligo District Court charged with a breach of a Covid-19

regulation.

Nicole Young, St Bridget’s Terrace, Sligo, was charged with the offence at Glencarrig, Ballinode, Sligo, on January 31, 2021.

The court heard she was a hard-working young woman who had flown over from Scotland to attend court. Judge Sandra Murphy accepted her donation of €100 to the North West Hospice in lieu of conviction.

TWO Offaly men found planting shrubs in Enniscrone during Level 5 lockdown were convicted of being outside their area.

Gerard Maughan (41), of Grove Street, Crinkle, Birr, Co. Offaly, and Michael McDonagh (29) of 22, Drumbone, Birr, Co. Offaly, were charged with being outside their area without good cause contrary to the Covid-19 regulations at Church Lane, Trotts, Enniscrone. This was during Level 5 lockdown on March 16, 2021.

They were planting the shrubs for a local resident.

Sligo District Court heard Maughan was married with five children and currently in receipt of social welfare.

He had no previous Covid-19 related convictions – two others were traffic related. Maughan pleaded guilty to the offence and Judge Murphy convicted and fined him €100 with three months to pay.

Garda Brendan Gardiner said planting shrubbery did not constitute horticulture and McDonagh gave no reasonable excuse for being there.