DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP
From our reporter at Tubbercurry District Court
Fine issued for man who swore at Garda
A 34-year-old man who launched a tirade of abuse at two Garda officers has been fined.
Kevin Duffy of Castlecourt, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, pleaded guilty at Tubbercurry District Court to two public order offences.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on January 19 of this year at 7.50pm, Garda officers attended an incident on Main Street, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, of a male who was intoxicated and had damaged a pair of spectacles belonging to an injured party.
They found Duffy at the scene who was abusive to the officers shouting, “Go f *** yourselves you w ****** ”. Duffy was then arrested, cautioned and charged under the Public Order Act.
It was disclosed that Duffy had 20 previous convictions.
Defence solicitor, Eamonn Gallagher, told the Court that his client had been on the end of a relationship break-up with a woman who had been his girlfriend for seven years. He had been refused a drink at a bar and “took exception”.
He added that Duffy apologises to the two Garda and has paid €200 to the injured party for the damaged spectacles and is “absolutely ashamed of what he did”.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Duffy €500.
Allowed underage teens to drink alcohol in pub
A former bar owner who let a number of underage drinkers consume alcohol in his pub has been warned that he’s on his “last chance”.
Shane O’Connor, 43, of Highfield, Tubbercurry, pleaded guilty at Tubbercurry District Court of authorising the sale of alcohol of intoxicating liquor to persons under the age of 18 and permit persons under the age of 18 to consume intoxicating liquor in a public place.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on June 17, 2023, at 10pm, Sgt Walsh inspected the O’C public house at Wolfe Tone Square, Tubbercurry.
There he found up to 40 underage drinkers consuming alcohol.
It was disclosed that O’Connor had two previous convictions.
Defence solicitor, Eamonn Gallagher, told the Court that the premises have been closed to the public these last six months and that his client will not be the licensee when it re-opens under new management.
Judge Michael Connellan issued out fines totalling €600 and warned O’Connor that he was on “his last chance”.
Man receives three-year ban for drink-driving
A 45-year-old man has been disqualified from driving for three years.
Francis Gallagher of Tower Crescent, Tubbercurry, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on October 21, 2022 at 12.25pm, a vehicle driven by the defendant was stopped by Garda. A breath test was performed and Gallagher recorded a reading of 200mg over 100ml.
The Court also heard that on August 3, 2022, Gallagher was found by Garda officers in a state of intoxication in a public place.
It was disclosed that Gallagher had two previous convictions for being in a state of intoxication in a public place.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Gallagher €100 and banned him from driving for three years for the driving offence and a further €200 for the public order offence.
Fine for defendant who grew own cannabis
A 44-year-old man who grew his own cannabis supply has been fined.
Stephen Flannery of Summerhill, Mountain Road, Tubbercurry, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants at his home address.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on April 6, 2021, Garda officers inspected Flannery’s property whereby a small amount of cannabis was being grown. The defendant made full admissions and said it was for personal use.
Defence solicitor, Mark Mullaney, told the Court that his client has “a habit of smoking cannabis” and grew the plants “to save money”. He added that the cannabis plants were not fit for sale.
He added that Flannery is “no longer smoking cannabis and has learnt his lesson”.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Flannery €250.
Conviction for breaching Covid restrictions
A 31-year-old man who breached the temporary Covid restrictions during the pandemic has been fined.
Martin Ward of Halting Site, Circular Road, Tubbercurry, did not show up for his hearing at Tubbercurry District Court.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on May 16, 2021 at the Surlis SuperValu store in Tubbercurry, Ward entered the premises without wearing a face mask in accordance to the temporary Covid-19 restrictions that were in place at the time.
When asked by staff why he wasn’t wearing a mask, Ward replied, “because I don’t want to”.
It was disclosed to the Court that he had 61 previous convictions.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Ward €100.
No road tax disc leads to fine for motorist
A 52-year-old woman has been fined for not displaying a road tax disc.
Cherry Hopper of Bracklagh, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, pleaded guilty to the offence at Tubbercurry District Court.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on January 3, 2023, a vehicle driven by Hopper was stopped with no tax disc on display.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Hopper €500.
Fine for man who was caught speeding
A 27-year-old man has been fined for speeding.
Shaun Murphy of Kilbeg Village, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, did not turn up for his hearing.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on November 30, 2022 at 4.20pm, Murphy was recorded at Sonnagh, Co. Mayo driving at 105kmph in an 80km zone. A fixed penalty notice was issued but not paid.
It was disclosed to the Court that Murphy had three previous convictions.
Judge Michael Connellan fined Murphy €300.
Massive fine for driving with due care and caution
A 23-year-old man who drove 59kmph over the limit has been hit with a massive fine.
Jan Boguszewski of Holywell Way, Swords, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty at Tubbercurry District Court to speeding and driving without due care and attention.
Sgt Derek Butler told the Court that on June 22, 2023 at 5.56pm, a speed checkpoint on the N5 at Cloonmeen West recorded a Volkswagen T-Cross vehicle driven by Boguszewski at a speed of 159kmph in a 100km zone.
Boguszewski was also observed performing several overtakes during what was “peak-time traffic”.
Garda pulled the defendant over who made full admissions. A fixed penalty notice was issued but went unpaid.
Judge Michael Connellan dished out two fines of €400 for each offence giving a total of €800.
Woman thanks the Judge for issuing a reduced fine
A woman left Tubbercurry District Court with a “thank you” to the Judge after a potential fine of €300 was reduced by two-thirds.
Kim Sharkey of Burtonpoint, Donegal Town, was thankful to Judge Michael Connellan for taking into account her personal circumstances at the time of her speeding offence.
The court heard that on June 20, 2023 at 8.12pm was recorded doing a speed of 75kmph on a 60km zone on the L1331 road at Lowpark.
Representing herself, Sharkey told the court that she was “very sorry” for the offence. She added that she had changed her car not long after the incident and the first she heard of her being prosecuted was just after Christmas last year.
Sharkey added that she went to her nearest Garda station to sort out the matter only to be given a number to call. Upon calling, Sharkey told the court that the woman she spoke to said she could pay €320 immediately to finalise the case.
Sharkey concluded by telling the court she could not afford that sum of money at the time and had she been aware of the initial letter of prosecution in June 2023, she would have been able to pay back then.
Judge Connellan fined Sharkey €100.
Arguing different case to the one he was being tried for
A 46-year-old man who disputed a case by constantly citing a separate incident to the one that he was up in Court for was fined.
Farasit Hussain of The Meadows, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, appeared at Tubbercurry District Court on a charge of driving without a driver’s licence.
Garda Lynott told the court that on October 6, 2021 at 4.26pm, a BMW vehicle was stopped by him and found that the driver – Hussain – could not produce a driver’s licence.
Representing himself, Hussain produced his UK driver’s licence and argued that he had it in relation to an incident in 2022.
Judge Michael Connellan attempted to tell Hussain that this hearing was about a separate incident in 2021. However, Hussain persisted in insisting on referring to the 2022 incident which the Judge admitted he had no knowledge of.
Eventually, Hussain realised and accepted that he was up before the court with regard to an incident that happened back in October, 2021, and accepted his guilt in that matter.
Judge Connellan fined Hussain €200.