DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP
From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse
23-year-old Sligo man had cannabis
A young Sligo man has been fined a total of €200 on possession of drugs charges, at the district court.
Hughie Irwin, 23, of St Joseph’s Terrace pleaded guilty to possession of €10 of cannabis at Mail Coach Road on April 5 last year.
He also pleaded guilty to an identical offence that amounted to €5 at Mailcoach Road on July 2 last year. The court heard the defendant had been given the Probation Act previously for a similar matter.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said they were very small amounts. Judge Kevin Kilrane said the defendant had got his chance. He fined the defendant €100 on each summons.
Driver’s ‘shocking’ alcohol reading
A Sligo man who had a “shocking” alcohol breath reading has been fined and given a driving ban at the district court.
John O’Hara, 40, from the Hawthorns, Carraroe, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a vehicle at Oakfield on July 12 last year.
He had an alcohol breath reading of 105 mcgs per 100 mls.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the defendant had never came to garda attention before, had behaved impeccably, was facing a long ban but had owned up immediately. Inspector Pat Harney said the defendant was polite at all times. Judge Kevin Kilrane said it was a “shocking reading”.
Mr McGovern said it was “not normal” behaviour for his client.
Judge Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned him from driving for three years.
Woman put off the road for two years
A Gurteen woman who pleaded guilty to road traffic offences has been fined and given a driving ban at the district court.
Corena O’Hara, 40, from Cuilmore, Gurteen, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving with no insurance at the same address on January 10 last year. The defendant had an alcohol urine reading of 144 mcsg. She had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the defendant was a lady with a disability.
When told that she would lose her driving licence, the defendant said she would manage without it and she got lifts.
The court heard the defendant was on disability allowance.
Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €50 and banned her from driving for two years for having no insurance. He fined her €200 and banned her from driving for two years for drunk driving. Related charges were struck out.
Gurteen man, 37, sent to circuit court
A Gurteen man has been returned for trial to the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court at the district court. Stephen Reilly, 37, from Flannery Terrace is charged with having cannabis for sale or supply at Rathmadder,
Gurteen, on June 2, 2019.
He is also charged with having a point 22 Gamo single shot air rifle at Flannery Terrace on August 19, 2018. He is also charged with possession of cannabis at the same location and on the same date.
The defendant is also charged having 20 rounds of ammunition for a long rifle calibre, Eley make, on the same date and at the same location. He is also charged with converting cash to the value of €7,230 that were the proceeds of crime on the same date and at the same location.
And he is charged with cultivation of cannabis on the same date and at the same location.
The court was told that Garda Kelly served the book of evidence on the defendant in relation to these first six charges before the court. He was returned for trial to the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court on June 15 on those charges.
The defendant was remanded on continuing bail until June 24 on a further seventh charge of having cannabis for sale or supply, on his own bond of €300.
Child pornography charge from 2011
A man has appeared in Sligo District facing a charge connected to child pornography.
He is charged that at an unknown location on July 27, 2011, did knowingly produce child pornography by producing a document relating to a person depicted as being a child and depicted as being engaged in explicit sexual activity.
He was remanded on bail until June 24.
Driving bans for Ballinfull woman
A north Sligo woman, whose alcohol readings in two different drunk driving cases “shocked” Judge Kevin Kilrane, at the district court. Catriona Shaw, 50, from Cloonabawn, Doondowney, Ballinfull, pleaded guilty to drunk driving at Cloonabawn on July 18 last year. The defendant had a blood alcohol reading of 271 mcgs.
She also pleaded guilty to an identical offence at Chapel Road, Grange, on October 10, 2019. The breath alcohol reading was 110 mcgs.
Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said that there were medical reports before the court.
It was a serious case and the defendant had made significant progress in dealing with certain issues. The defendant had a very responsible position in education and was fully co-operative with gardaí and had no previous convictions. Inspector Pat Harney said the defendant had never come to garda attention before these two incidents. Judge Kevin Kilrane said he was “shocked” at the readings.
He fined the defendant €300 and banned her from driving for three years for the offence on October 10, 2019. He fined her €300 and banned her from driving for five years for the offence on July 18 last year.
Charged with rape of woman in 2020
A man has been remanded on bail for service of a book of evidence on a charge of rape at the district court. The man is charged with raping a female on a date between February 22 and February 23 last year at a location in Co. Sligo.
Garda Lynda Loughlin gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the defendant on April 19. He was brought to Ballymote Garda Station.
The garda told the court that the DPP had directed trial on indictment to the Central Criminal Court.
The garda asked for a six-week remand on bail for service of the book of evidence on June 17.
The defendant, who was represented by counsel, was remanded on bail until that date.
Man had a small amount of drugs
A young west Sligo man has been given the Probation Act at the district court for possession of drugs. Shane Kelly, 24,Carrowreagh, Dromard, pleaded guilty to possession of €25 of cannabis at Brookefield, Sligo, on January 30.
Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said that it was a small amount and said that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Lying on ground on Rockwood Parade
A Cavan man who was found lying on the ground in a drunken state has been given the Probation Act at the district court.
Paul McCusker, 41, from Cedar Avenue, the Gallops, Latt, Co. Cavan, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to the offence that happened on October 6, 2018, at Rockwood Parade.
Inspector Pat Harney told the court the defendant had to be arrested for his own safety.
Judge Kevin Kilrane told the defendant he had been born in 1981, so “what was this nonsense?”
The defendant said he had been sober for 16 monhs.
“I have it under control,” he said. Judge Kevin Kilrane said he would give the defendant a chance and applied the Probation Act.
Student had drugs in Rosses Point
A Sligo third level student has been given the Probation Act after he pleaded guilty to possession of €20 of cannabis, at the district court.
Neil Mullaney, 20, from Springfield, Ballincar, was detected with the cannabis on June 14 last year at Rosses Point.
He had no previous convictions. The court heard the defendant could not be in court as he was a third level student.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said this was his only chance, and defence solicitor Mark Mullaney said he had spoken to the defendant on the matter.
Warning for Globe House resident
An asylum seeker has been told at Sligo District Court that he faces prison if he continues stealing. Ben Msamange, of Globe House, Chapel Hill, pleaded guilty to stealing €10.99 of chewing gum from Tesco and €19 of aftershave from
EuroGiant on July 21 last year. Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said his client apologised for what happened.
Msamange was an asylum seeker who lived in Globe House.
This would not happen again, the court heard.
The defendant told the court he was drunk when he committed the offences.
Mr MacSharry said all the goods were recovered.
Fining the defendant €50 on each charge, Judge Kevin Kilrane warned him that he would end up in jail, “if this continues”.
Fined €200 for being intoxicated
A 33-year-old Sligo man has been fined on a charge of intoxication at the district court.
Jamie Kilgallon from St Edward’s Terrace pleaded guilty to the offence that happened at Stephen McDonagh Place on March 22 last year.
A charge of using threatening and abusive behaviour was struck out. Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said there had been a family dispute. The court heard that the defendant was drunk and out of control. He had self-inflicted injuries and was waiting for an ambulance to come. The defendant had previous convictions, but nothing since 2016. Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200 on the intoxication charge.
Probation Act for having cannabis
A Leitrim resident has been given the Probation Act after pleading guilty at the district court to possession of cannabis.
Haley Carreras, 30, from
St. Aidan’s Court, Dartry Road, Kinlough, was detected with €5 of cannabis at St Anne’s Terrace on June 2 last year. She had no previous convictions.
Charged with theft of €10,000 cheque
A Collooney man has appeared in Sligo District Court charged with stealing €10,000.
Mario Weinand, 34, from Cloonamanagh, Collooney, is charged with stealing €10,000, a cheque issued by Rouse Project Development Unit, from Unit 3, Akol Centre, Enniscrone, made payable to Doris Weinand on January 15, 2019.
The defendant told the court he worked at building sheds.
The case was adjourned to May 17.
Man had cannabis on Quay Street
A Sligo man has been given the Probation Act at the district court for possession of drugs.
David Dykes, 36, from Colgagh, Calry, was charged with possession of cannabis at Lower Quay Street on June 10 last year. He pleaded guilty to the offence.
Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said the defendant understood it was a serious matter and he had no previous convictions.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said that as usual, it was one chance, and he applied the Probation Act.
After a year’s hiatus, the Sligo-based Cos Cos 2021 Festival will take place virtually from May 7th - 9th with a full on-line schedule of artistic, cultural, and creative activities, and events celebrating Sligo’s Colmcille heritage. The Cos Cos Festival (www.coscos. ie) is delighted to announce its return this year, from the 7th to 9th of
May, with an exciting schedule of virtual and on-line cultural and creative concerts, lectures, workshops, and sessions. In partnership with Sligo Colmcille 2021 (www.sligocolmcille.com), this year’s theme is the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Colmcille and his association with Sligo. The Festival schedule will include talks, performances, and creative projects inspired by Colmcille, and by the 6th century ‘Battle of the
Books’, and by the Drumcliffe area where tradition says he established a monastery. The Festival’s Traditional Concert will feature virtually local and guest musicians, including The Mairtin O’Connor Band, Oisin MacDiarmada and Samantha Harvey, Sean Carroll and family, Ciaran Mulderrig & Olivia McTiernan and Dancers. Workshops include Scottish & Irish steps from ‘Turas Damhsa Cholmcille’ commissioned by Cos Cos, is a dance project reflecting the journey of Colmcille.
The Sean Nos dance workshop with Kieran Jordan will be delivered live from Boston. Sessions include The Kilfenora Ceili Band and Sligo’s own Dartry Ceili Band. The site will host a Virtual Craft Exhibition presenting works produced during and prior to the lockdown by the ‘Old School Craft Group’. A video commission of the landscapes and heritage of North Sligo sites associated with Colmcille will be featured on the Cos Cos Festival website, as well as on the Sligo Colmcille website. Other events include an Elderberries dance workshop for over 55’s and the Festival Scone ‘secret recipe’ is to be revealed during our baking demonstration. The Bealtaine session of music, story & dance will make a welcome return. Children’s percussion workshop & a schools art project are also included. Inspired by the life of Colmcille and the ‘Battle of the Books’, which took place on the slopes of Benbulben, Michael Rooney has composed two short musical pieces, ‘Colmcille 1500’ and the ‘Sligo March’, and recordings of both can be accessed from the Colmcille 2021 website. Visual artist Catherine Fanning will create a series of handmade journal books together with a lino print of Drumcliffe Round Tower from the old monastic site. ‘A
Little Book of Blessings’, a booklet marking the anniversary year, will be formally launched. We are also delighted to have two renowned speakers present talks as part of the 2021 programme, writer and copyright lawyer Ronan Sheehan who will present ‘Sub Nomine Columbae’/ In the name of Columba which considers the issue of copyright law, and Colmcille scholar Dr. Brian Lacey who will lecture on ‘Colmcille – 1500 years on, the Legend of Colmcille’. Festival events will also mark Colmcille’s feast day, on the
9th of June, including The Sandy Road writers’ soundscape performance of their ‘Battle Of the Books’ poetry and music, a discussion with Stella Durand about the ‘Battle of the Books’, an on-line calligraphy workshop and icon exhibition. Further anniversary commemorative events and projects will take place throughout the year as part of the Sligo Colmcille 2021 programme including sculptural installations, an exciting ‘Book of Sligo’ publication, a Hamilton Gallery art exhibition, and other communityled initiatives. These can be viewed on the Programme page of the www. sligocolmcille.com website, which also includes information about of Sligo’s Colmcille story and heritage. While this will be a different type of festival, Cos Cos 2021 (and Sligo Colmcille 2021) is sure to be an exciting and diverse event with something for everyone. All festival content will be posted on-line at a scheduled time over the weekend (as per the festival programme). We will miss seeing you in person, but the 2021 Festival will be more accessible to the public and we invite everyone to join in and take part. Cos Cos Festival May 7th to 9th 2021 will be a celebration of our creative, cultural, and artistic heritage and traditions, and all about staying connected as we dance apart!