Tag Archives: court discretionary fund

MORE than 50 charitable organisations and community groups have benefited to the tune of €49,000 from the proceeds of the court discretionary fund. The amount raised this year is €7,000 more than the accumulated funds divided out last year, with 21 more organisations seeing the benefit. A payment to the court discretionary fund is typically ordered by Judge Patrick Durcan in minor cases, in particular in the case of first offenders. The payment is often ordered in lieu of recording a fine and conviction. This year’s fund has been divided across 51 local and national organisations, with the largest beneficiary the Bedford Row Family Project Ltd in Limerick, which supports the families of prisoners. The group has received €10,000 from the fund. St Vincent De Paul services in Clare was the next biggest beneficiary. Ennis received €3,000 from the fund and St Senan’s Kilrush Conference St Vincent De Paul received €2,000. Four organisations benefited from €1,500 each – the Garda …

A RECENTLY married man described as “heavily involved” with a Christian church has pleaded guilty to sexual assault and has been ordered to pay €1,000 to the court discretionary fund. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Ennis District Court this week charged with sexual assault on dates unknown between September 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. The injured party had been staying in an apartment in West Clare and as part of the arrangement, he shared a double bed with the accused. The court was told in evidence that one morning, the injured party woke to discover the accused’s hand on his penis. He became alarmed and jumped out of bed and made a complaint of sexual assault to the gardaí. The accused told gardaí that his “emotions overcame him” and that this was the first time something like this had happened. Solicitor for the accused Will Cahir outlined that his client had no previous …