Sermon from the bench
JUDGE Patrick Clyne handed down “a sermon” and a warning to a young drug user before ordering him to donate €250 to St Vincent de Paul for supplying drugs to his friends. “I don’t give a toss what you put in your arm, up your nose or into your bottom, but I am concerned what you give to your friends without their parents knowing”, he said.
Judge Clyne issued his “sermon”, as he put it, to the 15-year-old after a search of his home found he had €5 worth of cannabis herb in a joint.
The boy was given until the end of the day to make a €250 contribution to St Vincent de Paul, which he did and the case was dismissed.
Axeman kicked Garda
A 49-year-old father of five pleaded guilty to kicking a Garda in the groin while armed with an axe.
Paul O’Donoghue of Clarina Park was sentenced to four months in prison after he admitted assaulting Garda Nick Jones and being in possession of the axe outside his home in Ballinacurra Weston at 2.30 am on June 1, 2011.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said he would suspend the sentence if O’Donoghue kept the peace and was of good behaviour for 12 months
The court was told that O’Donoghue was seen standing on the street with the axe in his hand by gardai on mobile patrol in the area. Gardai pursued him to the door but were told by O’Donnoghue that he would kill them if they entered his property. They drew their batons and ordered him to drop the axe which he did.
O’Donoghue kicked Garda Nick Jones during arrest, landing a blow to his groin. He apologised for his actions, told the court he was sober for six weeks and was back working.
Collection basket theft
A COUPLE have been jailed for two months for stealing from the collection basket at St Michael’s Church, Denmark Street last March.
A complaint was made to gardai five days after an evening mass when CCTV footage showed a man and woman taking money from the collection basket as the congregation made their contributions to the clergy.
Pamela McNamara, a 25-year-old mother of four, pleaded guilty to stealing €15 from the basket. She had 61 previous convictions for bench warrant offences and thefts. Her boyfriend had earlier been sentenced to two months in prison for his role in the robbery from the collection basket.
Public indecency
A PROBATION and welfare report is to be submitted to Judge Eugene O’Kelly in relation to a man who pleaded guilty to a number of counts of indecently exposing himself in public.
36-year-old Charles King with an address in Corbally was charged with public indecency near a school on the outskirts of the city on January 20 last, contrary to section 18 of the Criminal Law act 1935.
He was also accused of further counts of public indecency in July of this year in areas of Castletroy and University of Limerick.
He was remanded on bail to appear at Limerick District Court on November 1 with strict conditions to stay away from the areas where the offences are said to have occurred.
Remanded for trial
A MAN who allegedly stole an iPod from an art student and then smashed it on the ground is to face trial at Limerick Circuit Court on charges of robbery and criminal damage.
Patrick O’Brien with addresses in Singland Park and Cecil Street was served with the book of evidence at Limerick District Court last week where he was sent for trial on the directions of the DPP.
The offences are alleged to have occurred on April 23, 2011 and Judge O’Kelly remanded him on bail to the next sittings of the Circuit Court.
