TWO young men who strayed off the straight and narrow had their ‘love of soccer’ to thank for Judge Tom O’Donnell having recognised their positive approach, and agreeing for a probation report for each to be submitted to court. It was their connection to the city’s most popular sport, and affidavits from their respective clubs, that may be the thing to keep them out of prison yard football teams. A 20-year-old man who, as his solicitor said, “featured on the back pages of the newspapers for his prowess in soccer and nothing more,” was charged with breaches of the Public Order act and a barring order that was in place over him from going to his parents home since last Summer.
Limerick District Court heard that Edward Madigan of Hillcroft, St Patrick’s Road, was diagnosed with chronic ADHD as a young boy and undertook an intensive course of daily medication.
However, in a bid to better himself, the court heard that Madigan stopped taking his medication in his late teenage years.
His love of sport and soccer never waned, and was much sought after by clubs and teams across the county, having played at the highest levels.
Garda evidence was given that the accused was drunk and disorderly, and as a barring order was in place, he had breached that on several occasions by calling to his parents home. He was duly arrested and charged, and hence before Judge O’Donnell answering the allegations.
John Herbert, solicitor, said that the man’s parents were forced to put the order in place as their son was having difficulties with alcohol. He also advised the court that the man had since been invited back to his parent’s home over the Christmas period.
Similarly, a 31-year-old man found himself charged with the possession of small quantity of zanax tablets and a flick knife kept in his sock.
Anthony Lynch, with an address at Maryfield House, New Road, Thomondgate, was charged with the offences.
On helping friends set up their market stall one Saturday last November, the court heard that Anthony Lynch found the knife and kept it as he felt it would be useful in his interest as a fisherman.
Having struggled with alcohol in the past, he went for a drink on the way home, and as his solicitor said, “one drink lead to another and another and another”.
He was stopped near King John’s Castle and searched, and it was then that the tablets and knife were found in his possession.
A qualified welder and originally from West Limerick, Anthony Lynch was described as a lad “doing his best despite difficult circumstances”.
He lost his job during tough economic times and was trying to support and maintain contact with his young child. But it was his love and connection with the soccer community that was heralded as one of his strongest assets.
In hearing the cases separately, Judge O’Donnell recognised the circumstances of both, but credited their association with the positive aspect of soccer in the city.
Letters were handed in from the soccer clubs of both Madigan and Lynch, and the Judge canvassed a probation report for each to be presented in court on March 24 next. He added and encouraged their involvement in soccer, and credited Madigan in his pursuit of coaching badges, and both men for their “keen interest in soccer”.
