Knife offences

A 33- year- old man has appeared in court charged with possessing knives and a hatchet.

Brian Reynolds of Drimiskabole, Carraroe was charged with possession of a knife, flick knife, hatchet and tools with sharp blades at Stephen Street Car Park on February 7th.

Reynolds was remanded on bail on condition that he live with his parents “24 hours a day.”

The case was adjourned to February 23rd. The defendant was represented by Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor. been in custody since the incident at 4am on the morning of the court.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said the men had arrived by taxi at the hotel and Gardaí were called after reports of the hotel’s front door being kicked.

The defendants. who were refused admission, broke three large flower pots before fleeing.

When Gardaí were arriving they were seen kicking the sign of the hotel at the front of the premises. Both men were arrested.

Mr Eddie Henry, solicitor ( defending) said the men had come to Sligo for Rag Week. They weren’t students but came to take part “in the festivities.”

Accommodation had been arranged at the hotel but when they arrived there by taxi, a third man jumped out leaving the defendants to pay.

The defendants sought to gain entry to the hotel and when they were refused one of them took grave umbrage to this and “took it out on the flower pots.” The other was verbally abusive.

Both men told the court they weren’t working and were regular visitors to this jurisdiction. Their parents weren’t aware they were in court.

Judge Kilrane said he was prepared to release them on bail to pay compensation.

Jones had a previous conviction for criminal damage in Northern Ireland and another for road traffic matters.

He was admitting to verbally abusing a member of the hotel staff.

Duffy, who was admitting breaking the flower pots, did not have any previous convictions.

The case was adjourned to March 9th for Jones to have € 400 in court with the Judge saying he will be fined and convicted on that occasion.

Duffy was ordered to have € 300 in court as compensation and if that was in court on March 9th the Judge said he would consider applying the Probation Act.

Both men were released on their own bail of € 300.

“If they’re not here the next day bench warrants will be issued and everything then is going to change,” said the Judge. Tullymongan Upper, Cavan who admitted possession fot he drug, worth € 530 at Brookfield, Ballinode on February 21st last. A charge of sale or supply was not proceeded with.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said Gardaí entered the house in Ballinode under search warrant and the defendant ran for a bedroom wndow. In a packet in his hand was 53 ecstasy tablets.

The 21 year old defendant didn’t have any previous convictions.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor ( defending) said Conaty was a student at IT Sligo and there were nine other people in the house in the living room when the Gardaí arrived.

Since the incident the defendant had made contact with the drug and alcohol addiction services in Monaghan.

“He has copped on to himself,” said Mr McGovern. HIs mother was in court and she was horrified to learn her son had dabbled in drugs.

“She didn’r rear him to do this and was in fact more than annoyed to learn as a parent that their offspring at college was dabbling in drugs,” he said.

Mr McGovern said young men don’t seem to be aware of what they are taken and he had read recently that rat poison is put into some of these pills.

“It’s amazing how intelligent young men get involved in this while at college.

“They’re taking their lives in their own hands,” he said, adding that the defendant came from a hard working decent family.

Conaty, said Mr McGovern was ashamed he had brought this on his parents.

The defendant told the court the incident was a wake up call for him.

He told Judge Kevin Kilrane who asked if he was “still messing about with this stuff” that at the time he had been a regular taker of drugs when going out drinking.

The defendant’s mother told the court that her son lived at home and worked part- time in a family business.

Judge Kilrane asked the defednant to address a class of secondary school students who were in the public gallery.

Conaty told them that his advise was not to get involved in drugs as they would destroy their lives and even worse they could end up dead and this was apart from bringing embarrassment to themselves and their family which he had done.

Judge Kilrane adjourned the case to December 14th for monitoring and said he wanted to be satisfied then “that he is not messing about this this poison.”

The Judge said he was always comforted by the fact a parent comes to court when there is a young fellow involved though he appreciated in this case that the defendant was not a young person.

There was a good hope he said that this was a passing phase for the defendant.

The Judge warned Conaty that a conviction for drugs would stay with him for the rest of his life.

“Mr Trump or no Mr Trump, you will not get into the US with a drugs conviction,” said Judge Kilrane. a good and decent life.