DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP

From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse

‘Hit and run’ victim sympathises with driver who hit him

A pedestrian who was knocked down in a “hit and run” accident has been thanked for his “Christian spirit” at Sligo District Court.

Anne Devaney, 46, from Killeenduff, Easkey, was charged with failing to remain at the scene of a road traffic accident that caused injury to Daniel Kilgannon at Ballymeeney, Dromore West, on February 6 last year.

At an earlier sitting, defence solicitor Gerry McGovern asked that the matter be put back for civil remedy. Judge Kevin Kilrane adjourned that sitting to allow the injured party to come to court to tell how he had been affected and what his attitude was to the incident.

Daniel Kilgallon told the court that he had a broken leg and ankle, a gash over his eye that needed six stitches, and had hurt his elbow.

Sergeant Derek Butler said it was suggested that the defendant had left the scene of the accident.

The court heard that she did initially leave the scene. A child with her had been crying. The defendant came back later and took full responsibility.

The court was told the defendant was blinded by another vehicle and her vehicle struck the witness as he was walking towards her on the road.

Mr Kilgannon told the court that he saw both vehicles and he sensed something was going to happen so he stood in with his heels tight to the fence. He said: “But I did not think I would be hit.”

The witness said he was struck, and he hit the ground.

He added that he moved himself back into the fence.

The witness took out his phone and rang his wife.

The light of the phone lit up his face and a Mrs Harte stopped her car and came to his aid.

During that time the driver of the vehicle that struck him came back and apologised. He accepted the apology and sympathised with her, saying that the other car could have moved her towards him.

He said he completely sympathised with the defendant and was happy for the matter to be dealt with in the civil court.

Judge Kilrane said the case had been put back to see what the injured party’s views were.

The case was struck out with the consent of the injured party. Mr McGovern thanked the witness for his “generosity and Christian spirit”. He said: “You have been very decent to this lady.”

Probation Act for man who fractured GAA star’s jaw

A Templeboy man who pleaded guilty to fracturing an ex-Donegal GAA star’s jaw in a ‘one punch’ incident has been given the Probation Act at Sligo District Court.

Joe Curran, 25, from Altons, Templeboy, paid €7,500 in compensation to Kilcar man Stephen McBrearty.

He had pleaded guilty to assaulting Stephen McBrearty at Norbert Ferguson Parade on Ocrober 9, 2019. At a previous sitting Stephen McBrearty told the court that everyone deserves a second chance and it was a moment of madness for the defendant, after he read a letter of apology from the defendant.

Judge Kilrane hda told that court that if the defendant, who had no previous convictions, came up with €7,500 in compensation he would apply the Probation Act.

The judge said that Stephen McBrearty was very generous and actually understated his injuries. Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry, pictured below, said he would send the payment to the victim.

Cloonacool man is facing deception and theft charges

A Cloonacool resident was remanded on continuing bail on various deception and theft charges for the preparation of a book of evidence at Sligo District Court. Martin Sweeney, 40, from Cloonacool is pleading not guilty to all charges and is opting for circuit court trial, the court was told. The defendant is charged with inducing William Dowd to pay €500 for work that was not carried out, on October 25 last at Belville, Dromore West. He did not return the money, the court was told. He is charged with stealing €250 from Margaret Lynott at Parke,

Kilglass,

Enniscrone, on January 9 last year. He is charged with inducing Olive Carter at Bellybeg, Ransboro, to part with €450 on November 29, 2019, for work that he failed to do, which was to bleach and paint walls. He did not return the money.

He is charged with inducing Patrick Hall at Killadoon, Ballindoon, Riverstown, on November 20, 2019, to hand over €250 for painting timberwork. The work was not done and the money was not returned.

The defendant is also charged with inducing Chris Burns to part with €600 for painting and powerwashing on July 27, 2019, at Roughan, Sooey. The work was not done. He did not return the money, the court was told.

He is further charged with receiving goods and services from Anthony Kelly on August 18 last year at Riverside B&B Chapel Street, Charlestown, to the value of €113.15 and making off without paying.

The defendant is also charged with inducing Brendan Queenan on a date unknown between January 20 and January 26 last year at Castletown, Easkey, to part with €1,000 for powerhosing and painting, which he failed to do, and he did not give the money back.

He is also charged with stealing €20.01 of diesel on December 9, 2019, at Feeney’s Petrol Station, Dromore West. He is also charged with stealing €15.03 of diesel on December 11, 2019, at the same location.

The defendant is charged with inducing Robert Vendenllst to pay €250 on

Sligo Courthouse.

June 25 last year at Dromore West for paint and powerwashing which he did not carry out and did not return the money.

The case was adjourned to September 9 for a book of evidence.

Coolaney man, 21, was caught with €1,500 of ecstasy

A Coolaney man who was charged with having €1,500 of ecstasy and €200 of cocaine for sale or supply in Coolaney had both charges struck out at Sligo District Court.

Seachlain O’Grady, 21, from Highwood Park, Coolaney, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on August 30, 2018, at that address. Defence solicitor John Anderson said the young man was working full-time in a hardware store.

The solicitor asked the court to leave the defendant, who had no previous convictions, with no convictions, as he planned to travel to Canada and a conviction would prevent the trip.

The defendant had €500 in court. Judge Kevin Kilrane asked the defendant why “he was messing about with drugs”.

The defendant said he “got caught up with the wrong crowd” but he was very happy now with his girlfriend and hoped to move to Canada but a conviction would stop these plans. The defendant said it was not a good time in his life, but he had the support of his parents.

When asked why he would have such an amount of drugs, the defendant said he was taking a lot of drugs and it was getting out of control. He later got help for his issues. When asked what he was doing with that amount of ecstasy, the defendant said he was taking it in powder form.

He said the €1,500 of ecstasy lasted him a month and he got the drugs in Sligo. They had cost him €800.

When Judge Kilrane asked how the defendant spent €800 on ecstasy when he was earning €317 per week, defence solicitor John Anderson said that this was back in 2018.

The defendant said he had got help voluntarily and had regular drug tests.

The judge it was worrying that the defendant had that amount of drugs and he could be supplying them to his friends or others.

Caroline O’Grady, the defendant’s mother, said she first noticed the problem when her son was in college. When Mrs O’Grady realised there was a problem with her son and drugs, she got him counselling and medical help. He was a “good son” and always worked.

Judge Kilrane said there must be some monitoring of the defendant to make sure he stayed “on the straight and narrow”.

The case was adjourned to December 16 to see if he was still keeping himself in order.

The judge said if there was any particular difficulty, he would come back to conclude the case.

Man who used fake notes told to come up with €1,100

A Ballaghaderreen resident who pleaded guilty to charges of theft and passing forged notes has been told to come up with €1,100 by this Thursday or face jail.

Nicolae Munteanu, 20, from No 1 Pound Street, Ballaghaderreen, admitted to charges of stealing a Tommy Hilfiger wallet valued at €58 from Sports Direct, Castle Street, Sligo, on January 17 last year.

He also admitted a charge that on December 16, 2019, at Boyle Sports, Rockwood Parade, he used an instrument to the value of €1,100 in €20 notes which he knew to be false.

The court heard the defendant had three previous convictions for road traffic matters.

Defence solicitor John Anderson said that the defendant had €500 in court.

The court heard the defendant owed money to a family in Ballyhaunis and they incited him to use the money.

He admitted stealing the wallet. The defendant had no previous convictions for theft.

He was a delivery driver and had a three-month-old child.

Judge Kevin Kilrane asked where the defendant got the counterfeit money.

The defendant said he used to gamble, and he got a loan from some people who told him they knew where he lived. He said he wanted to keep them away from his family.

The defendant said he was not gambling any more.

The judge asked the defendant if he thought it was right to rob people of €1,100 and not pay them back

The latter said no.

Judge Kilrane told him to come back to court today, Thursday, June 24, with €1,100 or face jail.