Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. James Maguire pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour and obstructing a garda. He was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined €200. Wayne Reid admitted cultivating two cannabis plants and possessing cannabis herb. He received 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Austin O'Reilly was charged with harassing and intimidating people while begging. The case was dismissed after the defence successfully argued that the prosecuting garda failed to provide evidence regarding a licence or permit. Geoffrey Melia pleaded guilty to being intoxicated, using threatening and abusive behaviour, and causing criminal damage at Swords Garda Station. He was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison. Additionally, a bench warrant was issued for Paul McGoldrick, who was found guilty in his absence of unlawful possession of cocaine, for the purpose of sentencing.
Rory Grant (48) pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of an intoxicant and having no insurance on May 20, 2013, at Chieftain's Drive in Balbriggan. Judge Patrick Clyne sentenced him to four months, suspended for two years, for the driving offence, and a concurrent four-month sentence, suspended for two years, for the insurance offence. Grant was also disqualified from driving for four years. Stephen O'Shaughnessy (23) pleaded guilty to trespass, theft of alcohol, and handling stolen property. The matter was adjourned until May 1st, with the judge requiring O'Shaughnessy to cooperate with Probation Services and provide €376 in compensation. Sean Lynch (26) is alleged to have assaulted a person by sticking a lit cigarette in their eye at Home Nightclub in Balbriggan on July 31, 2011. He was remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned until March 27th. Billy Atete (44) pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath sample at Balbriggan Garda Station on February 2. He was fined €250 and disqualified from driving for four years.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving drink driving and drug possession. Helen Ikechukwu, 35, of Lusk, pleaded guilty to drink driving on February 16, 2013, in Balbriggan. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted her, fined her €300, and imposed a six-month driving disqualification. Darren Koohof, of Wexford, was convicted in his absence of being drunk in charge of a vehicle in Skerries on October 30, 2013. Judge Dempsey noted a previous 2007 conviction and issued a bench warrant for Koohof's arrest for sentencing. Edward Byrne, 28, of Donabate, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis on May 2, 2013. Judge Dempsey adjourned the case until February 10 to hear the facts. Additionally, Laura Sheils, 23, of Swords, had her case adjourned until February 10 due to illness; she is alleged to have driven while disqualified and uninsured in June 2012. Keith Donoghue, 33, of Dublin 17, had his case adjourned until March 3; he is alleged to have attempted to drive while drunk and committed dangerous driving in August 2013.
In a case heard at Balbriggan District Court, 19‑year‑old Alan Joyce was remanded on continuing bail pending a Probation & Welfare Report. Joyce, who lives in Finglas, was found on a train from Gormanston to Skerries and attempted to seize a 14‑year‑old boy's iPod. He punched the boy several times, causing severe bruising, and then left the train at Balbriggan Station with the stolen device. Gardaí later located him on Balbriggan Beach in possession of the iPod. Joyce had previously pleaded guilty to the theft of the iPod on 10 August of the previous year. The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed summary disposal of the case. Defence solicitor Ms Fiona Darcy explained that Joyce had been in HSE care since 2010 and had a difficult upbringing, noting that he had no drink or drug problem.
Sean Smith, 18, of Dundalk, was convicted at Balbriggan District Court of selling cigarettes without excise duty paid. He pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved displaying various brands at Balbriggan Sunday Market. Judge Dermot Dempsey fined him €350 and ordered the destruction of the cigarettes. In separate matters, James Maguire, 43, of Balbriggan, is alleged to have used threatening and abusive behaviour and obstructed a garda in Skerries. His case was adjourned to March 3rd at Swords District Court, and he was remanded on continuing bail. Jade Gannon, 30, of Skerries, is charged with criminal damage, having no insurance, being intoxicated, using threatening and abusive behaviour, and failing to pay a taxi fare. Her case was also adjourned to March 3rd at Swords District Court, with the court remanding her on continuing bail. All proceedings were heard before Judge Dempsey.
In Balbriggan District Court, Barry O'Brien (47) of St Catherine's Green in Rush pleaded guilty to being in possession of a knife with a 12-inch blade at St Catherine's Park on August 1st. He was placed on a Probation Bond for one year with conditions set by Probation Services. Tomas Tarasevicius (29) of No Fixed Abode and Paulius Taracvius (33) of McAuley's Yard, Flemington in Balbriggan were remanded on bail to re-appear on February 13th when the Book of Evidence will be served. Tarasevicius faces four counts of handling stolen property, being in possession of stolen cars, and criminal damage. Taracvius is charged with possession of a stolen Audi car. Jade Gannon (30) of Mourne Park in Skerries was remanded until January 23rd after her defence solicitor explained that she could not attend court due to her children attending counselling following the murder of her father in front of her daughter. The case was adjourned pending a letter from the counsellor. A man charged with assault causing harm was remanded on continuing bail until March 13th to allow a judge to consider jurisdiction on receipt of a medical report. A Chinese takeaway owner was convicted of employing three foreign nationals without work permits and fined €1,500.
David Donnelly, 20, of Lusk, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jennifer Coffey in a Lusk graveyard on 5 August 2012, fracturing her nasal bone, and to making threatening phone calls to her father Michael Coffey on 6 April 2013. He also pleaded guilty to smashing a pub window at The Strand Bar in Skerries on the same date. Sergeant Tony Tighe reported that Donnelly admitted striking Ms Coffey twice in the face. A later scuffle in a Skerries pub left Donnelly with a bloodied nose after he smashed a glass window with his elbow. Donnelly paid €220 for the window damage. Judge Dermot Dempsey remanded him on continuing bail pending a Probation & Welfare Report, ordered him to attend addiction services, and warned that a custodial sentence would be imposed if the report was unsatisfactory. The case was adjourned to 27 March.
Swords District Court sentenced three defendants in separate matters. Marcin Andrejczat, 38, of Swords, pleaded guilty to drink driving on December 4, 2012, on Rathbeale Road. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted him, fined him €500, and disqualified him from driving for three years. The disqualification was postponed until June 1 to allow Andrejczat to settle his affairs. Daniel Whelan, 36, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine valued at €110 at The Wright Venue in Swords on June 17, 2012. Judge Dempsey imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison sentence, as Whelan was deemed suitable by Probation Services. Thomas Weldon, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to hit and run, careless driving, and failing to keep his vehicle at the scene following an incident on February 17, 2013. Judge Dempsey convicted Weldon of careless driving and fined him €300. The judge declined to disqualify Weldon, noting Garda O'Rourke's testimony that Weldon is a carer for his parents with health problems. All sentences were handed down at the sentencing stage.
In a Swords District Court hearing, Thomas Dennis, aged 21, was fined €1,500 for failing to report a hit‑and‑run that occurred on 16 December 2012. The incident involved a woman, hairdresser Shauna Weldon, whose right ring finger tip was severed when Dennis drove off in his car while she had her hand in the door. Dennis discovered the severed finger the next day, consulted his father, and only then reported the incident to the Gardaí. He pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to report a hit‑and‑run. Judge Dermot Dempsey noted that the State had not pursued more serious charges and imposed the maximum fine of €2,000, ultimately sentencing Dennis to a €1,500 fine payable over four months. No other penalties were imposed. The case concluded with recognisance pending any appeal.
Richard Coleman, a 29‑year‑old farmer from Drumlattery in Skerries, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty in Balbriggan District Court to driving without insurance on 29 June at Rathmore Road, Lusk. He had been stopped by Garda John Lennon who confirmed he had no insurance cover at that time. Coleman claimed he had paid a premium cheque two days earlier, but the insurance company returned it because the premium was higher than quoted. He did not receive the cheque until 31 June and was stopped before it was returned. Defence solicitor Mary Arnold noted he had taken out new insurance on 1 July. Coleman explained he drove to a vet to obtain antibiotics for a sick heifer, fearing the animal would die otherwise. Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted his explanation, decided not to disqualify him, but warned that as this is his third no‑insurance conviction he will face custody if he commits a similar offence again. He was fined €500.
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 28‑year‑old serial burglar, Florin Marticie, was found guilty of trespassing and sentenced to six months in prison. He claimed he did not know why he was arrested and said he was only going to a bus stop after finishing a morning's work for a friend. Marticie denied involvement in an attempted break‑in at a house in Ardla, Skerries, on 8 August. Detective Garda Vincent Healy reported that two men were seen near the house after the alarm went off, and that a pot plant had been thrown at a back window. Marticie was arrested after the Garda saw him walking past the bus stop. The court heard he had three previous convictions for burglary and theft and was currently serving a sentence.
Paula Reid, 50, of Drogheda, is accused of stealing €19,604 from Hugh Burrows & Sons Ltd, a knitwear manufacturer in Balbriggan, over a four‑year period from November 2008 to December 2012. She faces 64 theft offences. The case was presented at Balbriggan District Court where Sergeant Tony Tighe gave evidence of her arrest, charge and caution. Judge Dermot Dempsey directed a trial on indictment and remanded Reid on continuing bail to re‑appear on 26 January next year. The court also heard the case of Gunars Baumanis, 45, who was convicted of dangerous driving, hit and run, failing to remain at the scene and displaying a false tax disc. Baumanis was given a three‑month suspended sentence, a four‑year driving disqualification for dangerous driving, a six‑month disqualification for failing to stop, a €300 fine for the offence and a €100 fine for failing to report the incident. Gunars Baumanis pleaded guilty.
Swords District Court heard three matters. Gary McQuillian, 23, pleaded guilty to being drunk and a source of danger after jumping onto a moving taxi's bonnet. Judge Dermot Dempsey applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act, meaning McQuillian escaped a conviction. Ronan Healy, 34, pleaded guilty to drink driving after failing to stop at a junction, causing a squad car to brake to avoid a collision. Healy, who has four previous convictions including one for drink driving, was convicted, disqualified from driving, and fined €600. Sam Maughan, 19, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour at a Debs Ball. Maughan, who has 22 previous convictions, was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Court 5 at the Criminal Courts of Justice on November 21st to have a suspended sentence re-entered. The court noted Maughan had threatened Gardaí and had to be restrained by door staff. All defendants were represented by solicitors, and evidence was presented by Gardaí Brian Morrissey, Lucy Woods, and Daniel Rogers.
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.