DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP
From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse
Placed on probation for Tesco theft
A 31-year-old man has been placed on Probation for six months after stealing groceries from a town centre supermarket. Ahmed Binouna (31) of Globe House, Chapel Hill, Sligo, appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week and pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing groceries to the value of €23.79 from Tesco Arcade, O'Connell Street, on January 12.
Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that Gardaí received a call about a theft of items from Tesco at 6.27pm that evening and that security staff had kept a man at the scene. It was alleged that the man had walked in and out of Tesco without paying for certain items that he had placed in his bag, valued at €23.79. The man had gone by the time Gardaí arrived but Binouna was identified by Gardaí on CCTV and they went to his place of work nearby. When interviewed, Binouna was wearing the same clothes as seen on the CCTV footage.
He was arrested and brought to Sligo Garda Station and complied fully with Gardaí. The court heard Binouna has five previous convictions, four of them for theft. A Probation Report was handed up to Judge Gearty, as well as a testimonial letter from a local businessman. Defence solicitor Mr Tom MacSharry said Binouna was accompanied by his wife in court and had addressed his alcohol issues. Appointments had also been made with addiction counselling services. Judge Gearty noted the “very positive” Probation Report. “Clearly he has skills and can engage meaningfully in society,” she said.
She placed Binouna on a Probation Bond for six months on condition that he attend and comply with the recommendations of both the Community Addiction Services and the Probation Services.
Man stole alcohol from a petrol station
A recovering heroin addict has been given the benefit of the Probation Act after admitting he stole alcohol from a petrol station in Sligo town last February.
Gary Hannon (39) of Shalamar Hostel, Sligo, was charged with stealing alcohol to the value of €24 from Applegreen, Mailcoach Road, on February 11. He was also charged with stealing alcohol valued at €32 from the same location on February 12. Hannon pleaded guilty to the charges before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week. Outlining the facts to the court, Sgt Derek Butler said that Garda Martha Carter was on bike patrol at 9.10pm on Sunday, February 12, when she got a call about a theft from AppleGreen service station on Mail Coach Road. It was alleged that alcohol valued at €23 was stolen by Hannon that day and that he also stole alcohol worth €32 from the same shop the previous day. Hannon admitted the offences straight away, was fully co-operative with Gardaí but the goods were not recovered.
The court heard Hannon has six previous convictions, none for theft. Taking the witness stand, Hannon said he was “sorry” for what he had done and said it was “a stupid mistake.”
“I'm in recovery from heroin addiction and I've apologised to the shop,” he added.
Mr Tom MacSharry, defending, said his client had had “certain difficulties” but was now “on the right path”.
He said Hannon had had a relapse but things were “going well again” for him.
“He's never been before the court for theft in the past and he's now in sheltered accommodation. He has paid compensation,” said Mr MacSharry.
Judge Gearty gave Hannon the benefit of the Probation Act.
Woman charged with intoxication at Bridge Street
A woman found “aggressive and unsteady on her feet” in town has been convicted of intoxication and fined.
Tracey Kelly (40) of Yeats Drive, Cranmore, Sligo, was charged with intoxication on October 3. A charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour was struck out.
Kelly appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week where Sgt Derek Butler described how at 9pm on October 3, Gardaí received a report of an intoxicated woman on Bridge Street who had fallen.
When Gardaí arrived at the scene, the defendant was reported as being “angry, aggressive and unsteady on her feet.” She did not co-operate with Gardaí and was arrested.
Kelly has 34 previous convictions. Defence solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern told Judge Gearty that Kelly's offending was “all alcohol related.” “She goes well for a while, unfortunately she has a major problem,” he added.
Judge Gearty convicted and fined Kelly €50.
Ignored Garda direction to leave area
A man who sat on the ground and refused to budge for Gardaí while highly intoxicated has been convicted and fined €200.
John McDonagh (46) of Springfield, Co. Cavan, was charged with intoxication and failure to comply with the direction of Gda Seamus McGowan at Shannon Eighter, Sligo, on September 2.
Sligo District Court heard from Sgt Derek Butler last week that Gardaí found McDonagh highly intoxicated at 1.50am on the date in question.
Sgt Butler said McDonagh sat on the ground and said he “wasn't leaving.” He was arrested and taken to Sligo Garda Station. He has nine previous convictions, two for Public Order offences.
McDonagh, who made no appearance in court, was convicted and fined €200 by Judge Deirdre Gearty.
Man had stolen cans from Centra in Sligo town
Charlie Ward (28) of Elm Gardens, Sligo, appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week where he pleaded guilty to stealing two cans of gin and tonic worth €5.90 from Centra, Castle Street, on 27 October.
Sgt Derek Butler told the court that between 9.40 to 9.45 pm on October 29, Gardaí received a complaint from Centra on Castle Street that on October 27, a male customer spent a long time in the shop which alerted staff to his presence.
It was alleged that the man kept taking alcohol out of the fridge and then putting them back in. The defendant then took the two cans of gin and tonic and put them in his jacket pocket.
Gardaí found Ward around Sligo town and he made full admissions. The property was not recovered.
Mr Gerard McGovern, defending, handed in €6 to the court on behalf of Ward to compensate Centra.
Sgt Butler said he couldn't take the money but he said it was open to Ward to go down and pay Centra and come back with the receipt.
Speeding on way home from family wedding
A mother of the groom has been convicted for speeding on the way home from her son's wedding.
Ann Barbara Maughan (35) of Railway Terrace, Ballina Road, Swinford, Co. Mayo, was charged with speeding and failure to ensure her passengers under 17 years were wearing seatbelts on the N4 at Rinn, Sligo, on July 6, 2021.
Maughan pleaded guilty to both charges before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week.
Sgt Derek Butler told the judge that at 12.50am on the date in question the Garda Roads and Policing Unit had a checkpoint set up on the N4.
They detected a car driving at 123kph in a 100kph zone while the roads were “very wet.”
When the car was stopped by Gardaí, they found it being driven by Maughan who had two young boys asleep under a duvet in the back who were unsecured by any seat belts. They demanded her insurance documents and issued a fixed penalty charge which was not paid.
The court heard Maughan had 27 previous convictions.
Ms Kathleen Henry BL, defending, told Judge Gearty that Maughan's insurance was in order all along and had been verified.
Ms Henry said Maughan apologised and explained she was on her way home from her son's wedding that night. It had “slipped her mind” to pay the fixed penalty charge.
She added that her client was a volunteer with the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) and looked after her grandchildren and had one grandchild in hospital. Judge Gearty told the court that driving with two children without seat belts was something she took seriously and if there was ever an accident it would mitigate against the children. “She needs to look after her children, every responsible parent ensures that,” she added.
She convicted and fined Maughan €100.
Convicted and fined for no working tacograph
A truck driver has been convicted and fined for not having a working tacograph in his truck.
Kyle Fox (29) of Bruach na hAbhainn, Coolaney, appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Sligo District Court last week to plead guilty to failing to keep a record when his driver card (tacograph) was malfunctioning, failing to use a record sheet (driver card) and careless driving at N15 Bundoran Road on March 4, 2022.
Sgt Derek Butler explained that Gardaí were called to the scene of a three-car crash on the Bundoran Road at 3.11pm that day.
All three vehicles were travelling in a northbound direction when the defendant's truck collided with the rear of a car containing a family coming home from school.
When Fox's truck was checked it was found he was driving without a tacograph and was summonsed for the offence.
Defence solicitor Mr Eddie Henry told Judge Gearty that a van in front of the family car had come to a sudden stop which forced them to suddenly stop also.
He said his client then attempted to stop but his rigid truck continued on from momentum. He had full insurance and all documents were in order.
When Judge Gearty enquired as to why Fox had been driving without a tacograph, Mr Henry said his client told Gardaí that the tacograph had gotten stuck that morning and it wouldn't open for him. He said he meant to mention it to his boss but forgot to.
Mr Henry said Fox had lost his job over the incident and the father to four young children was now actively seeking work. He had no previous convictions.
Judge Gearty said the accident appeared to have been genuine but all drivers are supposed to drive a distance away from the car in front in case of such sudden stops.
She convicted and fined Fox €200 on the tacograph charges and took the careless driving charge into account.
Man charged with no insurance after being stopped
Rory Boyd (42) of John Fallon Drive, Cranmore, was charged with no insurance and failure to produce same at Castlebaldwin on November 26, 2020.
Sgt Derek Butler told the court that at 8.40pm that evening Gardaí on patrol saw a car speeding through a roundabout at Collooney.
They followed the car and it stopped at Castlebaldwin. The driver, Rory Boyd, told the Gardaí he didn't have his driver's licence on him and failed to produce it at Sligo Garda Station within 10 days.
The court heard Boyd has 61 previous convictions, including a conviction at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court in 2022 for possession of a knife. Mr Tom MacSharry, defence solicitor, told the court that the Probation