Community service and eight-year driving ban

COMMUNITY service was offered to Andrew McHale Reedstown, Tacumshane after he pleaded guilty to a series of charges dealt with at the District Court sitting in Wexford.

Judge John Cheatle heard how the 23-year-old was found by Garda Patrick O’Brien at the scene of a road accident at Tilladavin on September 6, 2915. He was with a badly damaged red Opel Corsa belonging to Tanya Cooney, which had been taken without her permission, and he admitted having been a passenger in the vehicle

He was also found to have on him a large, sharp pen-knife.

Later that month, a stolen Yamaha quad bike was discovered on train tracks at Tomhaggard.

McHale was traced as the purchaser of silver spray paint discovered at the scene. A charge of handling stolen property was admitted.

On Saint Patrick’s Day last year, he was arrested at King Street in Wexford for his own safety after he was found very intoxicated.

Also mentioned was a long standing charge dating back to Wallace’s Esso in Wellingtonbridge on July 12, 2013 when the accused was seen driving without insurance.

Judge Cheatle imposed a fine of €100 for having the pen-knife; 40 hours of community service for taking a ride in the Corsa; three months in jail, suspended, for the public order offence on St Patrick’s Day; 40 hours of community service for handling the quad bike; and four months in jail, suspended, with a fine of €150 for driving uninsured. McHale was also banned from holding a driving licence for eight years.