DISTRICT COURT
ROUND-UP
OVERTHELIMIT
Brendan Skelly (53), 45 Magdalene Street, Drogheda, has been fined €75 and disqualified from driving for three years from 19 January next after he pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge.
The offence occurred at Shamrock Villas on 27 March last. A subsequent breath specimen provided by the defendant showed a reading of 92.
NOINSURANCE FINE
A €100 fine has been imposed on Jalal Khan (29), 92 Lagavoreen Manor, Drogheda for driving without insurance at Lagavoreen Manor on 3 June, 2017. He has no previous convictions.
UNINSURED DRIVER
Stephen Reilly (23), Almondstown, Clogherhead has been fined €100 for driving without insurance at Beaulieu Cross on 3 August, 2017.
PLEATO REDUCED CHARGE
A 60-year-old motorist has been fined €25 after pleading guilty to careless driving. Mary Shalvey, 51 Tower View, Trim was summonsed for dangerous driving following a car accident which occurred on 22 April, 2017 on the M1 Southbound, Dunleer and the court accepted a plea of guilty to the lesser charge.
DRUGSCHARGE STRUCKOUT
An unlawful possession of drugs charge against Alan Kevitt (40), 122A Cedarfield, Donore Road, Drogheda has been struck out after he made a €300 donation to charity.
The offence occurred at Marley’s Lane on 21 December, 2017.
Legal aid was granted.
JURISDICTION REFUSED
The district court has refused jurisdiction in the case of Alan Cruise (29), 165 Moneymore, Drogheda. He is accused of assaulting a female causing her harm in Moneymore on 26 November, 2017. Judge Coughlan said it is a matter for the circuit court and adjourned the case to 28 September next for a book of evidence. The defendant was granted legal aid.
PAYMENTTO CHARITY
After making a €300 donation to charity Neville Rath (18), 150 Ashfield View, Drogheda, has had an unlawful possession of drugs charge struck out.
The offence occurred at Fair Street on 6 January last.
Legal aid was granted.
FAILEDTO PROVIDEBREATH SAMPLE
Noel Reid (40), 78 Laurence’s Park, Drogheda has been fined €30 and disqualified from driving for four years on a charge of failing to provide a breath specimen. He was also fined €30 for having no insurance on the same occasion, 24 July, 2017 at The Twenties. Other charges were taken into consideration. Gda Sharon Meredith gave evidence that at 2.53am she stopped the defendant after seeing him reverse out of the graveyard and ‘swerve all over the road’. When Reid got out of the vehicle he was unsteady on his feet, there was a smell of drink from him and his eyes were glassy.
He admitted having neither insurance or a driving licence. He had had a number of cans visiting his son’s grave.
Gda Lisa Finglas said the defendant twice attempted to give a breath specimen at Drogheda garda station and was unable to provide one.
Reid was not present in court.
FINEDFORNO INSURANCE
Niamh Keogh (36), Athcarne, Duleek, has been fined €30 for driving without insurance at Ballsgrove, Drogheda on 25 August last.
She has no previous convictions and was granted legal aid.
Other charges were taken into consideration.
CHANCETO AVOIDJAIL
A 44-year-old motorist has been given an opportunity to avoid a jail sentence for uninsured driving.
Ivars Pelnens, 8 The Courtyard, Marsh Road, Drogheda was stopped at Marsh Road on 26 August, 2017. He has three previous convictions for driving without insurance.
Solicitor Barry Callan said his client, who is on disability allowance, is willing to do community service.
Judge Coughlan put the case back to 7 December for reports and indicated a sentence of 240 hours community service in lieu of five months imprisonment.
A 10-year disqualification was imposed.
COMMUNITY SERVICEORDER
A 37-year-old motorist has been sentenced to 240 hours community service in lieu of five months imprisonment. Deborah Rafferty (37), 43 Rath View, Termonfeckin, had been charged in connection with a hit and run traffic accident which occurred on 3 March, 2017. Previously, evidence was heard from Ann Marie Maguire that she was driving her car on the Donore Road, accompanied by two children, when she was hit from behind by Rafferty, who she knew.
The defendant was charged with failing to report, stop, remain at the scene and give appropriate information about an accident, as well as careless driving, and having neither insurance or a driving licence.
On that occasion, Judge Coughlan imposed a four-year disqualification and €50 fine for no insurance.
Remaining matters were adjourned for reports and last Friday the court heard Rafferty is deemed suitable to do community service.
FORGED PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
A 36-year-old man who admitted five counts of forging a prescription has had his case adjourned to 27 November for a probation report. David Carroll, 75 Seabury Lawns, Mornington had in the past a problem with prescription drugs, his solicitor Dermot Monahan told the court. He is working as a chef and requires a knee operation. The charges relate to 1 August, 2016, at Pure Pharmacy, Southgate Shopping Centre, Drogheda.
WILL LOSE HIS JOB
A water treatment technician will lose his job as a result of convictions for drink driving and dangerous driving. Jason Everitt (27), 66 The Grange, Donore pleaded guilty to those offences which occurred on 27 December, 2016 at The Grange. The court heard he ‘impacted with three people’ when he drove his vehicle forward and then reversed it. Defence counsel David Staunton said his client was not drunk at that time. He works in water treatment as a technician and is going to lose his job, Mr Staunton continued. Everitt gave a breath specimen which showed a reading of 50. Judge Coughlan fined him €10 for each offence and imposed concurrent two-year driving disqualifications to commence on 19 January next.