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NEWS
An Chúirt Dúiche …
Dungarvan District Court
Road traffic prosecution A DRIVER involved in a front impact collision with another vehicle had a road traffic offence struck out when he made a donation to the court poor box. Maurice Morrissey (20) with an address at Coolnacreene, Cappoquin, pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, contrary to Section 51 (A) of the Road Traffic Act, a charge reduced from careless driving, contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act, at Ballyneety, Dungarvan, on 6th April, 2015. At last week’s Dungarvan District Court, Sergeant Mark Allen told Judge
Terence Finn that the accused was travelling along the N72 Military Road and was making a right turn towards Dungarvan when there was a front collision with an oncoming vehicle. Sgt. Allen there is a dip in the road at the location and it was considered a ‘lapse in concentration’ by the accused. “The road is regarded as a bit tricky,” Sgt. Allen said. Solicitor David Burke that since the collision, the lowest quote for insurance his client can get is €1,200. A donation of €250 was made to the court poor box and Judge Finn struck out the charge.
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 11 March, 2016
Dungarvan man causes criminal damage A DUNGARVAN man who was described as ‘full to the gills’ with alcohol when he breached the Public Order Act, as well as caused criminal damage. Cory J. Connors (21) with an address at 1 George’s Court, Dungarvan, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at 42 O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, on 8th June, 2014; and being intoxicated in public and using threatening, abusive language and behaviour, and theft, at Cathal Brugha Place, Dungarvan, on the same date. He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a pointed blade, contrary to Section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, at Congress Villas, Dungarvan, on 27th June, 2015. At last week’s Dungarvan District Court, Sergeant Mark Allen said Gardaí observed the
accused in possession of a pointed blade on 27th June, last year. “Gardaí observed the accused placing the pointed blade behind a wall when Gardaí approached. He later admitted possession of the weapon and said he was fearful for himself,” said Sgt. Allen. He said the window of 42 O’Connell Street was broken when a group of youths walked by on 8th June, 2014. The accused needed stitches as a result of the damage and admitted the offence of breaking the window, causing €75 worth of damage. He said later that same evening, the accused was in an argument with another, when he broke the window of a car and took a set of car keys, at Cathal Brugha Place, Dungarvan.
Sgt. Allen said the value of the damaged car window was valued at €150. Solicitor David Burke said his client pleads guilty to the charges and described him as “full to the gills” on the dates in question. Mr. Burke said his client has €150 in court as part-compensation. The court was told that Connors must also put together a total of €1,400 in compensation in relation to other matters where criminal damage was caused. Judge Finn said the accused “should go on a pilgrimage of penance” to realise the error of his ways. The case was adjourned to 27th April, 2016, to allow the accused to continue putting together compensation. Ciaran Geoghegan, Valerie Moloney, Jennifer O'Connell, Lismore Opera Festival Founder & Director, and Michael Moloney pictured at the launch of the Lismore Opera Festival at Strancally Castle. [Dan McGrath / Editorial Images]
Bench warrants Prison sentences for man who faced litany of charges issued TWO Waterford brothers who failed to appear in court last week had a bench warrant issued for their arrest. Anthony Ahearne (20) and Thomas Ahearne (18) both with addresses at 135 Viewmount Park, Waterford, are accused of alleged burglary at Campus Filling Station, Kilrush, Dungarvan, on 21st March, 2015. Solicitor David Burke told last week’s Dungarvan District Court that there was no sign of the brothers in court and he had no luck in contacting them. Judge Terence Finn noted that there was no reasonable excuse for their absence from court and issued bench warrants for their arrest. A BENCH warrant was issued for the arrest of a local woman after she failed to appear in court last week. Kim Bray (24) with an
address at 47 Childers Estate, Dungarvan, failed to appear at last week’s Dungarvan District Court. She is accused of a number of charges including one charge of alleged assault causing harm at the Plaza, Dungarvan, on 7th October, 2015 and two charges of alleged assault at Davitts Quay, Dungarvan, on 26th August, 2014, and at 47 Childers Estate, Dungarvan on 10th March, 2014. She is also accused of two alleged public order offences on 7th October, 2015 and 26th August, 2014; and an alleged theft charge on 7th October, 2015. Solicitor David Burke told Judge Terence Finn that he had no luck in locating his client. Judge Finn said there was no reason why the accused was not present in court and issued the bench warrant for her arrest.
PRISON sentences were handed down to a Cappoquin man last week for a litany of varying offences. Shane Power (28) of no fixed abode, formerly of Barrack Street, Cappoquin, and with previous addresses at 30 Willowbank View, Fairhill, Cork and Castle Street, Dungarvan, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without authority at 43 O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, on 9th October, 2015; not holding a driving licence; several charges of dangerous driving between Dungarvan and Castlemartyr and a charge of careless driving; theft from Aldi on 27th June, 2015; theft from Dunnes Stores on 23rd January, 2016 and a charge of being intoxicated in public at the Plaza, Dungarvan, on the same date; a further charge of being intoxicated in public at O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, on 28th January, 2015; theft from
Lawlor’s Hotel, Dungarvan, on 7th January, 2016; a charge of handling stolen property on 9th January, 2016; being in possession of a controlled substance, namely cannabis, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, in Dungarvan, on 28th January, 2015; and breach of a barring order on 19th February, 2016. At last week’s Dungarvan District Court, Sergeant Mark Allen told Judge Terence Finn that a vehicle parked at 43 O’Connell Street, Dungarvan was taken by the accused and driven in an erratic manner from Dungarvan to Castlemartyr. The vehicle was involved in a collision with another car on the road and later at Castlemartyr. Sgt. Allen said the accused entered Dunnes Stores, Dungarvan, on 23rd January, 2016, and got hot food from the deli counter, and left without paying.
He said the accused was in breach of barring order on 19th February, 2016. On 7th January, 2016, the accused was identified with another individual stealing alcohol from behind the bar of Lawlor’s Hotel, Dungarvan. The accused was found in possession of cannabis after being arrested for a public order offence on 28th January, 2015. The accused was identified stealing a bottle of vodka from Aldi, Dungarvan, on 27th June, 2015. Sgt. Allen said the accused has 92 previous convictions. A defence barrister said the accused has psychiatric difficulties and has been in and out of custody since he was 18 years of age. “For 12 months he stayed out of trouble, but then he got involved in the cycle of theft and public order offences. My client apologises. Alcohol is his
biggest problem,” said the barrister. “He is not supposed to drink while on psychiatric medication. I would ask the court for leniency on any sentence, and the intervention of the Probation Service so he can re-integrate into society.” Judge Finn said the accused has done nothing for himself, except distance himself from those closest to him. “I am seeing offending left, right and centre,” said Judge Finn. “He has issues with alcohol and other substances. He will have to use the services in prison to deal with those issues,” said the Judge. A nine month jail sentence was handed down for taking a vehicle without authority, while not holding a driving licence was marked proven and taken into consideration. Concurrent sentences of three months were handed
down on the dangerous driving charges, along with an endorsement and a driving disqualification of ten years. A concurrent six month jail sentence was handed down, along with an endorsement and a ten year driving disqualification for the charge of careless driving. Two six month jail sentences were handed down for theft from Aldi and theft from Dunnes Stores, to run concurrently. A further six month jail sentence, to run consecutively, was handed down for the theft from Lawlor’s Hotel. A concurrent six month sentence was handed down for the charge of handling stolen property. The public order offences and the drugs possession charge were marked as proven and taken into consideration. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.