School break -in accused
A Tubbercurry man has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court on several counts of trespass and theft at schools in Leitrim and Roscommon.
Charlie Ward (25) of Five Station View, Connolly Park, Tubbercurry, had a Book of Evidence served on him at the District Court by State Solicitor for Sligo Mr Hugh Sheridan.
Ward is on High Court bail of ¤2,500 cash. He’s accused of stealing a Peugot van at Westchem, Drishogue, Carrick-on-Shannon on 20th November
He’s charged with trespass and theft four days later at Scoil Mhuire, Drumboylan, Co. Roscommon and Strabban National School, Arigna, Carrick-on-Shannon on 24-25th November 2013.
Charlie Ward is also charged with robbing a black handbag a few days later on 28th November 2013 at Slish Woods, Sligo, containing an Estonian Driving Licence, ¤40 and a ¤100 Nokia phone.
Ward then appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson in the Circuit Criminal Court the same day.
Under his bail terms he must sign on every Monday at Ballymote Garda Station.
Smyth told the court that it was very wet that day and he accepted that he was driving too fast for the conditions but insisted he wasn’t speeding.
Inspector Sweeney read out the woman’s statement in which she said she had left college that evening with friends and looked both ways before crossing the road.
“I saw a navy Opel Corsa. I tried to stand back but it hit me and I fell to the ground,” she alleged.
She said the driver apologised. An old man at the scene came to her aid and told the driver ‘the least you could do is bring her to hospital’, which Smyth did.
Judge Kilrane said Smyth had what would appear to be a “minor impact” with the victim: “Nonetheless, it’s troubling that a motorist didn’t see a pedestrian.”
He convicted and fined Smyth ¤300. appeared before the District Court as a Probation Report was handed in to Judge Kevin Kilrane.
Inspector Donal Sweeney said Smith took a green audi belonging to Mr Francis Sheridan from outside his house on Lower Abbey Street on 16th May 2016.
He drove it as far as the Dublin Road in Collooney and was charged with driving without a licence, insurance and dangerous driving.
Smith was also charged with threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Boyle Road, Collooney the same night.
Inspector Sweeney said that Smith collided with two parked cars at Collooney, one of which was pushed 30m up the road and mounted the pavement.
He said Gardaí found Smith walking drunk through a car park and when they arrested him and put him in the back of the patrol car, he tried to kick out the car window.
“He made full admissions at the Garda Station when he sobered up,” he said.
A charge of driving without a licence or insurance was also put to Smith dating from 22nd January 2016 at Cranmore Place.
The court heard Smith has previous convictions for Road Traffic offences dating back to 2006.
His defence solicitor, Ms Laura Spellman told the court that Smith had “somewhat of a checkered past” but he had pleaded guilty on 7th July 2016 and the matter had been adjourned for engagement with the Probation Services.
She said the Report handed up to Judge Kilrane was “somewhat positive” and Smith was making “significant efforts.”
She said he was drug free and attending group meetings regularly.
Ms Spellman said Smith was five weeks into a CE scheme and was doing “much better now than a year ago.”
Smith told the court that his fifth child was just born last week and he was working towards a job in Sligo University Hospital as a porter.
Judge Kilrane said the offences were serious and asked Smith why he took the car.
“I honestly can’t remember. It was after my brother’s inquest. I just lost it. I am meeting a counsellor and waiting for an appointment to deal with that,” he told the judge.
He said he wanted to make his life better for himself and his children but it was very hard and he was “struggling.”
“The hardest thing is the drink. I’ve been drinking since I was about 12,” he told the court.
“Drinking is one thing but what propelled you to steal a car?” asked the judge.
“I don’t know. I can’t even recall the night in question. It’s like it never happened to me, but it did,” said Smith.
Judge Kilrane said he needed further monitoring and if there was any proven evidence of re-offending he was going to send Smith to prison.
Judge Kilrane adjourned the case to 2nd of November and said he would finalise matters on that day on the recommendations of the Probation Officer if there was nothing further against Smith.