Swords District Court heard four matters. Adrian Vaduva, 41, pleaded guilty to stealing a purse containing €848 and bank cards from Balbriggan Post Office. Judge Dempsey sentenced him to six months in prison, noting he failed to assist Gardaí with enquiries regarding an alleged accomplice. Luke Purcell, 18, pleaded guilty to stealing €70 worth of petrol. He was convicted and fined €200 after failing to provide a charitable donation. Clive Barry, 36, pleaded guilty to drink driving with a blood alcohol level of 209mg/100ml. He was disqualified for three years, with the mandatory disqualification postponed until January 1st. Mark Power, 33, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, lacking a licence, and leaving the scene of a collision. The matter was adjourned until next May for a Probation & Welfare report, with Power remanded on continuing bail.
A 23‑year‑old man, Martin Daly of Balbriggan, was charged with unlawful possession of heroin and Diazepam, obstruction of a Garda, attempted swallowing of heroin bags, threatening and abusive behaviour, assaulting a Garda, and possession of a stolen laptop. He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Balbriggan District Court on 16 January next year. A 34‑year‑old man, Aidan McDonnell of Lusk, was charged with disorderly conduct and pushing a Garda. He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Swords District Court on 3 February next year. A 37‑year‑old man, Sebestian Knecht of Swords, was charged with using an altered driving licence, possessing a false insurance disc, and driving without insurance. He was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Swords District Court on 3 February next year. All three cases were heard by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
In a case heard at Balbriggan District Court, 19‑year‑old Scott Chapman was charged with failing to stop at a Garda checkpoint, dangerous driving and driving without insurance after he drove a red Honda Civic at 110 km/h through Lusk village on 4 May. He fled on foot after the checkpoint and was arrested shortly thereafter. Chapman pleaded guilty. The judge, Dermot Dempsey, disqualified him from driving for two years and fined him €300 for dangerous driving, and for an additional six months' disqualification and €300 fine for driving without insurance. The court did not impose a custodial sentence, citing the teenager's lack of prior convictions and the brief nature of the offence. The decision was influenced by the defendant's father's testimony, but the judge emphasised that the outcome was based on the facts presented, not the father's remarks.
At Balbriggan District Court, Erik Keder (27) of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of implements. Keder, who admitted to carrying a six-inch hunting knife and screwdriver at New Haggard Bridge in Lusk on March 14, 2012, while intoxicated, was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month prison sentence. Judge Dermot Dempsey noted the seriousness of carrying a knife while intoxicated. In a separate matter, James Ward (43) of Balbriggan was remanded on continuing bail to await DPP directions. Ward is charged with inducing seven individuals to make lodgements totaling over €2,000 into his bank account for goods, including Electric Picnic tickets and mobile phones, which he allegedly advertised online but did not provide. He is scheduled to reappear on February 6th. Additionally, Linda Barrett (29) of Balbriggan was remanded on continuing bail for a probation report. Barrett is charged with being abusive and aggressive to gardai at Beaumont Hospital's A&E department on October 8th. Her solicitor stated she has abstained from alcohol since the incident. Judge Dempsey warned Barrett that he must be satisfied she is addressing her alcohol problem. She is to appear before Swords District Court on January 13th.
Jonathan Coyle, 31, of The Collages, Colecot, Lusk, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in Balbriggan District Court to driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, failing to produce insurance and driving without a licence on 2 June at Colecut. He had 82 prior convictions, including four for driving without insurance and driving while disqualified. Coyle admitted it was foolish to test drive a car while disqualified, noting it was a short distance from his home. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to a six‑month prison term, suspended for two years, and imposed a 20‑year driving ban. The judge also ordered a probation report to consider 240 hours of community service in lieu of the prison term for driving without insurance, and adjourned the case to 23 January 2014. If Coyle is not deemed suitable for the community service, the judge may jail him for an additional six months for driving without insurance.
At Balbriggan District Court, David Donnelly, 20, of Lusk, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman causing her harm on August 5th. Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted jurisdiction following a DPP direction for summary disposal. Donnelly was remanded on continuing bail to allow for a medical report and to hear the facts on January 9th, 2014. Thomas Dennis, 21, of Skerries, is alleged to have caused injury to a woman, driven on a provisional licence without a qualified driver, used a vehicle without an NCT, and failed to report an accident on December 16th, 2012. Dennis was granted free legal aid and remanded on continuing bail. His case was adjourned until January 13th, 2014. Noel Orange, 29, of Naul, is alleged to have possessed a knife and provided gardai with a false name and address on August 24th. Orange was remanded on continuing bail. His matter was adjourned until November 14th for a plea or hearing date.