DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP

From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse

Case adjourned for victim impact statement

A 24-year-old man's case has been adjourned to today (Thursday, February 1) so that a victim impact statement can be obtained.

Josh Brady of Cartron Bay, Sligo has been charged with trespassing at a property on Fatima Avenue, Sligo on May 26, 2022 in a manner to cause fear in another person.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that the defendant entered the house belonging to the injured party in a state of intoxication and fell asleep on a couch.

The injured party, whose two children were with them, found Brady in his property and contacted the Gardaí.

When the officers arrived, they found Brady in an intoxicated state and he refused to tell them why he was at the property.

Judge Deirdre Gearty adjourned the case so that the injured party's victim impact statement could be recorded.

Man, 34, is warned to stay out of trouble

A 34-year-old man was given a suspended sentence and warned not to breach it.

Wayne Kearney of Seaview Park, Strandhill Road, Sligo, pleaded guilty to an assault on another male on November 1, 2020 at Seaview

Park.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that the injured party was seen by Garda bleeding from the nose. The injured party identified Kearney as having assaulted him. The victim was later diagnosed as having a broken nose.

Kearney was arrested and charged. It was disclosed to the

Court that he has nine previous convictions.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, told the Court that his client “apologises for what happened”. He added that Kearney has had mental health difficulties and has left Sligo for Cork for a new start.

Mr MacSharry continued by stating that his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has brought €2500 compensation for the injured party as “a gesture of remorse – nothing more, nothing less. This is a watershed moment for him”.

Judge Deirdre Gearty told Kearney: “This was a nasty incident which caused a nasty injury and there can be no excuse. You have a significant list of previous convictions with some of those being of a similar nature to this offence.”

Kearney was sentenced to five months in prison to be suspended for one year.

Judge Gearty concluded her statement by warning Kearney: “Any further convictions of any nature will result in this suspended sentence being triggered.”

Defendant was caught stealing on CCTV twice

A 27-year-old woman was told that the camera is always watching you.

Rebecca Maughan of Ashbrook, Castlebaldwin, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft in relation to incidents that took place respectively on February 18 and February 24, 2023.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on February 18, 2023, the defendant was caught by CCTV at the Boots store at Johnston Court Shopping Centre, Sligo, stealing a bottle of Lacoste perfume priced at €50.

Sgt Butler added that on February 24, 2023 at the same store, CCTV once again caught Maughan stealing a bottle of B-Bold Tan priced at €38.

It was disclosed that Maughan has no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, told the Court that at the time of the offences, his client was “in a certain group and that there was an element of peer pressure”.

Judge Deirdre Gearty applied the Probation Act to Maughan and told her: “The CCTV can pick you up straight away Miss Maughan.”

Probation Act applied for shoplifter

A 53-year-old woman pleaded guilty at Sligo District Court to one count of theft.

Vinna Ralston of Cranmore Drive, Sligo, was charged with stealing items from the Boots Store on Johnston Shopping Centre, Sligo.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on November 11, 2023, Ralston lifted a HiSmile toothpaste item and one SoSu Foundation product – total value being €43.95 – from the shelves and made no attempt to go to the tills to pay for them. CCTV picked her up doing this and leaving the store without paying.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry told the Court that his client is sorry, all goods have been returned and that she is on a lot of medication.

Judge Deirdre Gearty applied the

Probation Act to Ralston.

Defendant fined for driving without insurance

A driver has paid the price for not having his vehicle insured.

Gerard Harte of Yeats Drive, Cranmore, pleaded guilty at Sligo District Court.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on May 25, 2023, Garda stopped a Mini Cooper car being driven by the defendant at Pirn Mill Road, Sligo.

Checks revealed that the vehicle was not insured.

Defending solicitor, John Anderson, told the Court that his client's then-employer was the registered owner of the vehicle and that Harte thought that he was covered on the insurance as he had been with previous vehicles. However, his employer “forgot to add him” on the insurance for this car.

Judge Deirdre Gearty fined Harte €200.

Fined for possession of a substance

A 46-year-old man was fined after pleading guilty at Sligo District Court to possession of a substance.

Liam Scanlon of Quay Street, Sligo, was charged after being arrested when Gardaí found cannabis on his person following a search.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on August 18, 2022 at Ted

Nealon Road in Sligo, the defendant was stopped by a Garda who had observed Scanlon “acting suspiciously”.

A search saw cannabis to the value of €50 found in his bag.

It was disclosed that Scanlon has eight previous convictions.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, told the Court that

Motorist involved in road collision was uninsured

A 21-year-old man has avoided being disqualified from driving after being involved in a traffic collision while not insured.

Iosif Calderas of City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo pleaded guilty at Sligo District Court to driving without insurance.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on Decmber 23, 2022, Garda responded to a road traffic accident on Ray MacSharry Road , Maugheraboy, Sligo.

The defendant was one of the drivers involved. Officers asked Calderas if he was insured to drive the vehicle to which he replied that he wasn't.

Defending solicitor, Tom MacSharry, made a request to the Court to “not to disqualify my client as losing his licence would cost him dearly. I know it's a big ask for I would ask for no disqualification”.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said: “I won't disqualify him but he will be fined €200.”

Man, 28, fined for not having road tax

A 28-year-old man was fined after pleading guilty to not having a valid tax disc on display on his vehicle.

Scott Greenhalgh, 28, of Cloondara, Ballisodare, Sligo, appeared at Sligo District Court to answer the charge.

Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on February 1, 2022 at 10.58am, Garda spotted a vehicle parked in Collooney that had no tax disc on display.