DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP
From our reporter at Sligo District Court and Tubbercurry District Court
23-year-old had cannabis herb
A young Sligo man has been fined for possession of cannabis herb at the district court.
Hughie Irwin, 23, from St Joseph’s Terrace, Sligo, pleaded guilty to possession of €5 worth of the drug in John Street last year.
The court heard he had two previous convictions.
The defendant was represented by solicitor, Gerry McGovern.
Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200.
Fined and given a 1-year driving ban
A young Collooney man has been fined and banned after pleading guilty to drug driving at Sligo District Court.
Kyle Conway, 23, from Knockbeg, Collooney, pleaded guilty to a charge of drug driving (cannabis) at Rathosey, Coolaney, on June 6, 2019. The court heard the defendant had three previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the defendant had emigrated and was living in the US and was pleading guilty.
Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned him from driving for one year.
43-year-old had cannabis in Sligo
A Sligo man with 91 previous convictions has been given the Probation Act for possession of cannabis at the district court.
David McLoughlin, 43, from St John’s Terrace pleaded guilty to possession of €50 of cannabis at Stephen Street on May 7 last year. Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said the defendant had no previous convictions for drugs.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said he would apply the Probation Act despite the different previous convictions.
Threatening and abusive behaviour
A Sligo man who previously pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour has been fined €300 at the district court. Stephen Sherlock, 23, from Cartron Bay, Sligo, had pleaded guilty to that charge that happened in Ballymote Garda Station on October 6, 2019.
The court was told the defendant had 13 previous convictions. Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said the defendant had not drank since this incident and was very remorseful about the incident and apologised to gardaí.
He now had a good job, and had fully engaged with the probation services.
The case had been put back for a probation report.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said he had seen the report, which was impressive. He fined the defendant €300.
Probation Act for man who had drug
A Sligo man who admitted possession of cocaine has been given the Probation Act at the district court.
Brian O’Byrne, 41, from Temple Street pleaded guilty to possession of €80 of the drug at Ballymote Garda Station on April 23 last year.
Defence solicitor John Anderson said the defendant had no previous convictions. He was attending counselling and addiction services. His mother had passed away around the time of this offence.
The solicitor said the defendant had money for charity in court. Judge Kevin Kilrane ordered that €200 be given to Aubrey Melville of Social Ground Force and he applied the Probation Act.
Driver had cocaine in his system
A Sligo man has been fined and banned for drug driving at the district court.
Ian Gallagher, 36, from Cleveragh Road, pleaded guilty to driving with cocaine in his system at Carrowgobbadagh on May 21, 2019.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the defendant was a hard-working man and asked that the driving ban be postponed until October 1. The defendant undertook not to use illegal drugs or drink and drive. He had started his own business and needed to get organised.
The defendant was fined €200 and banned from driving for a year.
Told to bring €300 in cash to court in Tubbercurry
A Sligo man has been told to come up with €300 in cash for Tubbercurry court next month or face jail.
Charlie Ward, 30, from Slieve More Drive, Ballytivnan, pleaded guilty to threatening Neil Holland that he would damage his property at Parklands Crescent, Tubbercurry, on
May 18 last year.
The court heard the defendant also threatened to burn the injured party’s house.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said the defendant had too much drink and it was a throwaway comment.
The defendant had 17 previous convictions, including some for public order matters, the court heard. He had stayed out of trouble since and was apologetic.
The judge told the defendant to come back with €300 next month when the court would “deal with the matter”.
If he failed to do so, it would be jail.
Woman, 30, drove without insurance
A Charlestown woman has been fined €300 for driving with no insurance at Tubbercurry District Court. Natasha Harper, 30, from Parkview, Charlestown, was also charged with having no licence and not wearing a seat belt at Parkview Estate, Charlestown, on January 13 last year.
Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said the defendant had no previous convictions and worked as a health care assistant.
She took a policy out on the following day, and she needed her licence as the loss of it could have serious effects on her employment.
The defendant was also pleading guilty to having no seat belt. She had a provisional licence, the court heard.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said the defendant was a specified driver and a seat belt matter could add to the defendant’s difficulties.
Judge Kilrane fined the defendant €300 for no insurance with no ban in the circumstances.
She had handed in her licence to the court.
The judge struck out the charge of failing to wear a seat belt, saying it would leave her with a driving ban.
Woman, 21, who stole is told to stay out of Spar shop
A young Charlestown woman has been given a three-month jail suspended for two years after she pleaded guilty to a series of thefts, at Tubbercurry District Court.
Winnie Ward, 21, from Laveymore, Charlestown, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol to the value of €35 from Mahon’s Spar, Charlestown, on January 26, 2019.
She also pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol and groceries to the value of €34.04 from the same location on March 2019.
She admitted two counts of stealing alcohol to a total value of €42.98 at the same location on February 23, 2019.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of Cork Dry Gin valued at €19 from Centra, Bellaghy, on February 1.
And she pleaded guilty to stealing items of food the value of €12.23 from Mace Supermarket, Low Park, Charlestown, on April 29.
Defence solicitor Morgan Coleman said the defendant was pregnant and was dealing with the probation service by telephone.
She was trying to stay out of trouble, had health difficulties and was dealing with those issues.
The defendant just wanted the court matters dealt with and she was getting social welfare.
Judge Kilrane gave the defendant a three-month jail sentence on all thefts suspended for two years on her own bond of €100. She was to stay out of Mahon’s Spar, Charlestown, and only to enter the post office part of the premises. The defendant was to commit no indictable offence for the next two years.
Payments after man ‘cannabalised’ Mercedes at airport
A Mayo man who “cannabalised” a Mercedes car at Knock International Airport was given the Probation Act at Tubbercurry District Court.
Judge Kevin Kilrane applied the Act after the defendant came up with €2,000 for various local bodies and for the injured party.
Kim Jensen, 63, from Killeen, Ballyvary, Co. Mayo, pleaded guilty at an earlier sitting to causing criminal damage to a Mercedes-Benz belonging to Shane Timoney at the airport on September 9, 2019.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of entering the area as a trespasser with intent to commit an offence. That charge was taken into account. Defence solicitor Morgan Coleman told the court the injured party Shane Coleman had been compensated through his insurance.
The defendant lived in rural Ireland and needed his licences and had made full admissions. He realised how “stupid” his actions were and he was “remorseful.”
The defendant had no previous convictions. The defendant was a Danish national.
Judge Kevin Kilrane ruled that the defendant should pay €500 as compensation for the criminal damage and €500 each to Ballymote, Charlestown and Tubbercurry Tidy Towns.
Donegal man’s charge is reduced to careless driving
A Donegal man had a charge of dangerous driving reduced to that of careless driving at Tubbercurry District Court.
After hearing evidence of the driving, Judge Kevin Kilrane said he was satisfied that Gerard Mulhern, Drumgowan, Donegal town, be charged with careless driving.
The court heard the defendant, who was driving towards Sligo, overtook a few cars who were behind one vehicle that was driving slowly.
The matter happened on November 30 on a dark evening. An oncoming car who had no lights had to take evasive action and hit the ditch. The driver of that car did not make a statement.
In a statement to gardaí, the defendant said the oncoming vehicle had no lights and braked very hard and hit the ditch.
He managed to pull in to his correct side if the road.
A third party, who was driving behind the defendant, gave corroborative evidence.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said he was satisfied that this was a case of careless driving.
He fined the defendant €200.
Probation Act for man, 53, who spat in woman’s face
An Achonry haulier who admitted calling a Tubercurry woman “scum” and spitting in her face has been given the Probation Act at Tubbercurry District Court.
Judge Kevin Kilrane applied the act after James Matthews, 53, from Achonry, Tubbercurry, came up with €10,000 in compensation to Sharon Kelly.
The defendant pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour and assaulting Sharon Kelly in Foley’s Bar on January 5 last year.
The court heard the defendant had no relevant previous convictions. Judge Kilrane said the defendant had acted irrationally and aggressively towards the injured party. He had handed over significant compensation.
The judge said he thought the defendant’s behaviour was “an aberration” and he would leave him without a conviction.
In a letter of apology read out in court, the defendant unreservedly apologised and was very ashamed and truly sorry for the emotional and psychological hurt and distress that he caused her.
Judge Kilrane said the €10,000 was a more meaningful expression of apology.