Knife charge dropped against fox hunter

A fox hunter has had a charge of knife possession dropped but was convicted for several motoring offences.

Jonathan Lapsley (35) of New Row, Milltown, Raphoe, Co Donegal, was stopped at a Garda checkpoint on the Bundoran Road, Sligo on 3rd February 2017.

Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told the court that Lapsley first turned back from the Garda checkpoint.

After he was stopped and the car searched, two knives were found in the driver side of the car.

“He couldn’t give an explanation as to why they were in the car at the time,” said Inspector Kilcoyne.

Lapsley was charged with possession of the knives as well as the fraudulent use of a number plate, exhibiting a false disc, no road tax, no insurance and no valid NCT displayed.

He pleaded guilty to the motoring offences.

Taking the witness stand, Lapsley told Judge Kevin Kilrane that he was on his way to the Galway Rally from Raphoe that day.

He said he had an old waterproof jacket in the car as he had been hunting the night before and the knives were in the jacket.

“What kind of hunting do you do?” asked Inspector Kilcoyne.

“Foxes. I go hunting all the time,” said Lapsley.

Judge Kilrane said he was satisfied that the knives were “not for an ulterior motive” and were for hunting.

He said he believed the reason Lapsley turned back from the Garda checkpoint was because of the Road Traffic matters.

The court heard the defendant has one previous conviction.

Lapsley’s solicitor, Mr Rory O’Brien, told the court that he was the father of a young child and had insurance with Boxino, whereby the more mileage you do, the higher your premium.

Judge Kilrane was told by Lapsley that a device in his car records his mileage for this purpose.

Judge Kilrane struck out the charge of knife possession but convicted Lapsley of the motoring offences and fined him ¤600.