Tag Archives: Judge Mary Larkin

An UNEMPLOYED Ennis man has failed to convince a judge that the €26,000 he received for ‘three trotters’ helped finance him purchasing a Toyota jeep for €43,000 in cash in €50 notes. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin has dismissed a fresh bid by Ned Doherty (32) of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Gort Road, Ennis to have Gardai return his 20-2 Toyota Hilux jeep. Judge Larkin said that she was “more confused than ever” after hearing about the various sums Mr Doherty is claiming to have used on the jeep’s purchase. Judge Larkin said that the evidence from Mr Doherty was a mix of ‘don’t know’, ‘can’t remember’ and ‘don’t deal with money’. Mr Doherty purchased the jeep in cash from a County Roscommon car dealer on February 23 2021 but it was seized 10 days later as part of a wider Garda operation that also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on March 5 2021. Making the ‘police …

Clare’s district court judge has stated that as a woman she has on numerous occasions had to suffer inappropriate behaviour from men who have no respect for women. At Kilrush District Court, Judge Mary Larkin made her comment before convicting a 56 year old west Clare man of sexual assault after he slapped the backside of a woman who he was attracted to on November 17 2021. The man – who has no previous convictions – pleaded guilty to the offence of sexual assault of the woman after he slapped her backside while she was queuing to pay for her shopping at Queally’s Supervalu, Kilrush in west Clare. Solicitor, Michael Ryan for the man said his client “is a man of his era” and did not understand the laws of attraction when one party clearly indicates to the other that they are not interested and that is ignored and this is what happened on this occasion when the woman was …

A WEST County Clare cancer survivor who turned to cannabis for pain relief after the “horrible” ‘Oxycontin’ opioid drug played havoc with him has been convicted of cultivating cannabis plants. At Kilrush District Court, Judge Mary Larkin fined James Lawrence (61) of Kiltumper, Kilmihil, Co Clare €100 after he pleaded guilty to the cultivation of cannabis without a licence at his home on July 3 2021. Judge Larkin told Mr Lawrence that she wished him well. She said that she just wished someone of Mr Lawrence’s age would find a better way and not have to come into court “and if he has issues, I would like him to resolve them without having to come in here”. Sergeant Louis Moloney told the court that during the course of a Garda search of Mr Lawrence’s home on July 3 2021, a quantity of cannabis herb was discovered in the living room and three cannabis plants were discovered in a bedroom. On …

A JUDGE has stated that children “might as well be weeds on the side of the road” if a parent doesn’t provide for them and ensure that they get an education. Judge Mary Larkin made her comment at Kilrush District Court where she warned a mother of two school-shy children that she faces spending time in prison if her children’s attendance at education doesn’t dramatically improve. One of the children, a 16-year-old girl had a 100% absence rate and missed all available school days in 5th year in school before leaving school for Youthreach last summer. Solicitor for the Child and Family Agency (CFA), Kevin Sherry said that the girl’s school attendance has been ‘horrendous’ and ‘dire’. Mr Sherry said that the girl had an 82% absence rate in Junior Cert and is in danger of losing her Youthreach placement after missing 60% of days. Solicitor for the mother, Patrick Moylan told the court that his client’s daughter just wouldn’t …

As many as 10 Traveller families may be involved in violent feuds in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis district court, solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had been told by a garda that up to “10 Traveller families” are involved in different feuds. Ms Godfrey was representing a 41-year-old Ennis man who gardaí allege is one of the “main aggressors and instigators” in one of the feuds. Patrick McDonagh, a married father of eight with an address at Dun Na hÍnse, Lahinch Road, Ennis, appeared in court charged in connection with a violent incident in the Considine Road area of Cloughleigh on Tuesday night, December 13. McDonagh, faces two charges of criminal damage and a further charge of producing a weapon during the course of an offence, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Judge Mary Larkin refused McDonagh’s application for bail and remanded him in custody. Detective Garda Brendan Rouine of Ennis garda station …

TENSIONS are “extremely high” between two families alleged to be involved in a violent feud in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court earlier this week, Garda Alan Burke said, “Tensions have been very high over the last couple of months between the two families.” Garda Burke was giving evidence as the State objected to the granting of bail for Michael Doherty (22). Doherty, with an address at St Michael ‘s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis, is charged with two offences arising from an incident at Hogan’s service station, Gort Road, on the outskirts of Ennis on November 18, 2022. Doherty is charged with unlawful possession of a slash hook contrary to section 9 the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. He is also charged with breach of the peace contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act. The court heard Doherty replied “no” to each of the two charges, under caution. Garda Burke said gardaí have secured …

A JUDGE has refused bail for a Clare man charged in connection with an alleged knife attack in Kilrush. Anthony Sweeney (29), with an address at Saint Patrick’s Terrace, Kilrush appeared before Ennis District Court, charged with two offences arising from an alleged violent incident at Crawford Street, Kilrush on May 28, 2022.  Sweeney is accused of assault causing harm to Michael Kelly, contrary to section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.  Sweeney is further charged that during the course of an offence, he produced a knife capable of inflicting serious injury, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons  Act.  Sergeant Aiden Lonergan told the court that a file had been forwarded to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the matter is to proceed on indictment to the circuit criminal court. Garda Patrick Hanley told the court he arrested Sweeney on December 1 and later charged him with the two offences before …

A MOTORCYCLIST who weaved in and out of traffic on a busy motorway and was pursued by a garda car at 180km/h has been told he could have killed himself.  At Ennis district court, Judge Mary Larkin imposed a two-year driving ban on Brian Gibson (33). Gibson, a pipe fitter with an address at Oakleigh Wood, Dooradoyle, Limerick, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving at the M18, Carrigoran near Newmarket-on-Fergus on April 9, 2022. Gibson admitted speeding but denied that his driving was dangerous.  After convicting Gibson of the offence, Judge Larkin said, “In my own view, I can’t even imagine driving a heavy car at 180km/h. I would say to Mr Gibson, if you hit a wall or clipped a car or anything at that speed, you would be dead.”  Judge Larkin told Gibson that he can’t travel at 180km/h on any road.  “The laws of physics apply,” the judge added.  In evidence, Garda Sarah Durack of Henry Street …