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NEWS
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 23 February, 2018
Fine imposed on man for ranting at passers-by A DUNGARVAN man who was making a nuisance of himself by going on a ‘general rant’ at passers-by was fined in court last week for a public order offence. James Keenan (30) with an address at 9 Convent Lodge, Mitchel Street, Dungarvan, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public at Grattan Square, Dungarvan, on 18th June, 2017. Inspector Larry Sheahan told Judge Terence Finn that Gardaí were called to Grattan Square on the date in question
because there was a male abusing passers-by. When Gardaí arrived they observed the accused shouting and roaring abuse in the direction of members of the public. The accused was arrested for his own safety and held at the Garda Station until he was sober. A fixed charge penalty notice which issued for the offence was never paid. Insp. Sheahan said the accused’s public outburst was a general rant not directed at anyone specifically. He said the accused was a
general nuisance to passers-by. The accused has 16 previous convictions, which includes some for public order offences. Defence solicitor Gillian Mahony said her client has had difficulty with alcohol over the years. She said the accused is married with three children and his wife is pregnant and due to give birth. “My client is very sorry for the trouble he caused and is trying to change his ways,” Ms. Mahony said. She said the accused has €100 in court for the poor box.
Van driver fined for ‘discourteous driving’ A VAN driver who pulled out onto the main road causing other traffic to brake was fined in court last week. William Crowley (57) with an address at 16 Old Cork Road, Midleton, Cork, pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, contrary to Section 51 (A) of the Road Traffic Act, at Kilclogher, Dungarvan, on 9th February, 2017. At last week’s Dungarvan District Court, Inspector Larry Sheahan told Judge Terence Finn that a Garda patrol was travelling along the N72 past the Welcome Inn at 4.50 p.m. They observed a van coming from the road on the left at the staggered junction, which came out of the left side without stop-
ping, causing the vehicle in front of the Garda car to brake suddenly. Gardaí stopped and spoke with the accused who was driving the van and a fixed charge penalty notice was issued for an offence under Section 51 (A) of the Road Traffic Act, but the fine was never paid. A defence solicitor said the accused had looked right and estimated the traffic to be 50 to 60 metres back and he pulled out of the junction into a lay-by / hard shoulder section of the road intending to merge with the traffic. The solicitor said his client acknowledges it was “discourteous driving” because it caused the other vehicle to brake. He said there was no danger of a col-
lision. The solicitor said the accused sells food products in the East Cork / West Waterford area. Judge Finn noted that a vehicle was forced to brake because of the accused’s actions, which in turn meant the Garda patrol vehicle very likely had to take corrective action also. Judge Finn said the rules of the road are clear - vehicles have to give way to approaching traffic when emerging from junctions and allow for sufficient time to emerge from the junction and not cause the other traffic to take corrective action. The accused has no previous convictions. Judge Finn handed down a fine of €200. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
Jason and Suzanne Ryan, Claire and George Corbett pictured at the WLR & Granville Hotel GAA Awards Gala Dinner. [Noel Browne]
However, Judge Finn said the accused has been bothersome to the public in general, the Gardaí and the court service. “He had to be arrested for his own safety. He then had to be detained until he was sober, creating a custody record at the Garda Station. When he is released, he receives a fixed charge penalty notice to deal with the issue, which he ignores, resulting in a summons issuing to bring him here to court,” Judge Finn said. He handed down a €150 fine for the public order offence.
Kilmac’ man sent forward for trial A KILMACTHOMAS man was sent forward for trial last week to the Circuit Court in Waterford. Michael Lanigan (42) with an address at Donscott Cottage View, Kilmacthomas, is accused of alleged possession of cannabis with an estimated street value of €14,033 at his address on 8th September, 2016. The accused faces three charges - alleged possession of the cannabis for his own personal use, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act; alleged possession for sale and / or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act; and alleged possession of a quantity of drugs with a value greater than €10,000, contrary to Section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The accused also faces a charge of allegedly having approximately 7.623 kilograms of fine cut tobacco products for sale without tax stamps, in a prosecution brought by the Revenue Commissioners, at the same location and date. At last week’s Dungarvan District Court, Judge Terence Finn noted that the Book of Evidence was served on the accused and he made an order sending the accused forward for trial to the present sittings of Waterford Circuit Criminal Court, on 20th February, 2018. Judge Finn warned the accused that he has 14 days to inform the prosecution of any witnesses he intends calling to the trial. Failure to do so and those witnesses won’t be entitled to give evidence at the trial. The accused indicated he understood. Solicitor Niall King represented the accused.
Dungarvan District Court
Road traffic prosecutions A MOTORIST was fined in court last week for not having tax on his vehicle. Henry Crean (28) with an address at 8 Pairc an Aonaigh, Kilmacthomas, was fined €350 at last week’s Dungarvan District Court for failing to pay a fixed charge penalty notice which issued after Gardaí observed his vehicle without a current tax disc at the Causeway, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, on 3rd March, 2017. Judge Terence Finn was told that the tax had expired in December, 2016. The accused, who did not appear in court, has no previous convictions. A CLONMEL driver was fined in court last week for failing to produce his NCT. Stephen Condon (28) with an address at 4 Glenconnor, Clonmel, was fined €200 at last week’s Dungarvan District Court for failing to pay a fixed charge penalty notice, which issued after he failed to produce his NCT when requested by Gardaí at Strandside North, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, on 30th July, 2017. Judge Terence Finn was told that the NCT had expired in April, 2017. The vehicle has now since passed its NCT. Solicitor Martin Lavan said his client had purchased earlier in the year, but it had failed its first NCT test. “He brought it to the NCT again and it failed the second time on emissions. The situation has been rectified now,” Mr. Lavan said. A CORK driver who was found using a vehicle without an NCT was fined in court last week. Anthony Dineen (25) with an address at 31 Quaker Road, Cork, was fined €500 for using a vehicle without an NCT at Killongford, Dungarvan, on 21st June, 2017. He was also fined €150 for failing to pay a fixed charge penalty notice, which issued after Gardaí observed that his vehicle did not have a current tax disc displayed. Garda Margaret Clifford told Judge Terence Finn that the tax had expired in June, 2016 and there was no NCT disc on the vehicle. She said the vehicle was seized and later destroyed. The accused, who did not appear in court, has 11 previous convictions, including some for road traffic offences. Garda Clifford said the accused told her at the time that he ‘buys and sells cars’. Judge Finn said the accused should be fully aware of his responsibilities regarding vehicles on the public road and imposed the fines on the accused.
Bench warrant issued A RING driver who failed to attend court last week had a bench warrant issued for his arrest. William Mulcahy (31) with an address at 3 Coast Guard Cottages, Helvick Head, Ring, is accused of driving with no licence, failing to produce licence at the roadside and at a Garda Station within ten days and an alleged speeding offence on the N25 at Garranbane, Dungarvan, on 2nd June, 2017. There was no valid reason for the accused’s absence from court and Judge Terence Finn issued a bench warrant for the accused’s arrest.