Tag Archives: Ennis District Court

People always ask Margaretta D’Arcy how did she become an anti-war activist? In her new book, Ireland’s Guantanamo Granny, the Galway-based activist answers the question by showing how her early experiences of war motivated her to campaign for peace. “I’m nearly 82 and not many people will remember the effect of World War II. My family had been living in Dublin but when I was about four or five, my father was transferred. He was a civil servant with the Department of Agriculture and we were to go and live in England,” she says. “A couple of days later came the news about the beginning of the war. The whole of London was like a war zone, with all these barrage balloons and sirens going off. It was an extremely frightening experience.” Ms D’Arcy says what followed was “panic” to get the family back to Ireland. “I think when a child has that trauma and the effect of the war …

A 37-year-old man appeared in Ennis District Court this week charged with the sexual exploitation of a child in County Clare. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl on a date between September 7, 2014 and September 27, 2014. The charge states that the accused communicated with the child with the intention of carrying out an act that would constitute the sexual exploitation of the child contrary to Section 3 of the Child Trafficking Act 1998. During the hearing on Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy informed Judge Patrick Durcan that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case could be dealt with by summary disposal in the district court. Inspector Kennedy informed Judge Durcan that the contact that was made between the accused and the injured party consisted of about 40 to 50 text messages and he added that about half of the text messages were of …

Gardaí were able to arrest a drug addict, who admitted trespassing with intent to commit theft, after they followed a trail of blood from a hand injury the man sustained while gaining entry to a premises. The shrewd piece of detective work was outlined to Judge Patrick Durcan at this week’s of Ennis District Court when Patrick Ballard (28) was sentenced to a term in prison. The court heard that on July 1 last, at 2.15am, a window was broken at the Spar shop in Lifford and gardaí were called. Arriving on the scene, they found a trail of blood, which led back to Lifford Lodge, where they found Patrick Ballard with cuts to his hand. He had cut his hand in his attempt to get into the shop. The court heard that the defendant had 68 previous convictions, six of them for theft and one for burglary. Mr Ballard’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said he has significant difficulty with his …

AN Ennis man who assaulted his heavily-pregnant partner received a prison sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. The defendant admitted the offence, which occurred on June 27 of last year in Inagh. At the time, the woman was around 28 weeks pregnant. She was brought to the Maternity Hospital for a check-up but the baby was unharmed. The relationship subsequently ended. A three-month sentence was imposed, while a separate drugs-related charge was taken into consideration.

A MAN who caused €2,361 damage to a vehicle he took on a “test drive” while drunk has to pay €25 a week in compensation going forward or he will face a prison sentence. Martin Daly of 6 The Mews, Kilrush Road, Ennis, took a 11 CE Peugeot 207 from the forecourt of O’Sullivan and Hansbury Motors in Ennis on February 10 last after seeing the keys in the ignition. Mr Daly took the vehicle to Kilmaley and Inch and had at least one crash during his spin, causing the damage. When gardaí apprehended the defendant at Dromeen East, just outside Ennis, he had a bottle of vodka in the passenger seat, which he drank in front of them. There was damage to one of the car’s alloys, there was a hole in a tyre, part of the bumper was missing, while the right wishbone and right shock were both bent. The defendant was arrested on suspicion of drink driving …

FIVE people who are facing charges arising from an investigation into money-lending in Kilrush are set to have their cases heard in the circuit court. Diana Casey, 12 Wood Road, Kilrush; Patrick Casey, Beverley Hills View, Kilkee Road, Kilrush; Ann Marie O’Brien, 12 Sycamore Drive, Kilrush; James O’Brien, Chapel Drive, Kilrush and Bernie O’Grady of Wood Road, Kilrush were all before Ennis District Court this week, where Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction in the matters. Giving evidence at Wednesday’s court sitting, Detective Donal Corkery said a number of people had been identified following what was called Operation Payday and that observation had been carried out over a lengthy period of time. He also said that people using money-lenders had been identified and some complaints had been made. Detective Corkery said he understood loans involved had ranged from €50 to €8,000. Regarding rates of interest, he said in the case of someone who was borrowing €100, €150 would have to be …

TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace have vowed not to pay €2,000 fines imposed on them at Ennis District Court this evening, after Judge Patrick Durcan found them guilty of offences at Shannon Airport last summer. Asked is she would pay the monies Deputy Daly replied “absolutely not” while the Wexford man replied “You know what, I wouldn’t pay that fine to save my life.” They also say they will not appeal the convictions. The TDs faced charges of climbing a perimeter fence at Shannon Airport and entering a part of the airport to which they were not permitted on July 22 of last year, contrary to the Airport Byelaws of 1994. Ms Daly said that the two TDs will continue to be active in the campaign against the US military use of Shannon. “Of course we will, yeah. We will absolutely continue in this and we have not intention of paying a financial contribution to a State that allow …

A MAN who took up drug-dealing in an attempt to pay off a loan he incurred prior to his wedding, appeared before Ennis District Court last week. Laimis Klemankas, 25, with an address at 3 Gleann an Óir, Shannon, admitted charges of having possession of drugs and of possession with intent to sell or supply, at his address on September 12 last. The court heard that, on the date in question, cannabis valued at €818.46 and amphetamine, valued at €282.44, were found during a search at the address, along with some drug paraphernalia including a tick list, weighing scales and some cash. Mr Klemankas’ solicitor, Stiofán Fitzpatrick, said his client is Lithuanian and has been in Ireland for seven years. He has never been in trouble, either here or in his home country. He said Mr Klemankas had smoked cannabis for a period of time but gave it up because it gave him heart palpitations. Mr Fitzpatrick also said that …