Crime Special Monday: A Kerry altar boy and Canadian redemption
The KerrymanOn a typical day in District Court, dozens of cases go through the critical administration. Dates are set, bail and legal granted, interpreters requested. A handful of cases are done and dusted on the day.
But at a crime special sitting there are back-to-back pleas, hearings and sentencings.
At a recent special sitting in Tralee, Fraech McGrath (26) of Ballinraha, Ballyhooly, Cork and Harold’s Bridge Court, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6 was in court for allegedly throwing a pint glass onto a stage during a band performance on July 6, 2024. Mr McGrath was arrested on July 16 and charged with public intoxication, assault and assault causing harm at Reidy’s Shop and Pub at Main Street, Killarney on July 6, 2024.
The injured party had a small cut over his left eyebrow, the court heard. No victim impacted statement was given.
Mr McGrath maintained it was a plastic bottle and not a pint glass that was thrown, and he had never intended to hit anyone, his solicitor Padraig O’Connell told the court. But, in recognition of the wrong, Mr McGrath had paid €8,000 to the injured party.
“I think there’s a little bit of an altar boy look about him but, unfortunately, on that night he was more devil than altar boy,” said the solicitor.
He noted his client was a professional who would likely need to travel for work and a criminal record could prevent this. The case was struck out.
Mandy Browne (39) of Main Street, Castlegregory, faced a charge for drugs possession dating from February 24, 2017. On Monday, nearly nine years later, her case was struck out. Her solicitor, Pat Mann, told the court she had moved to Canada with her Canadian partner, where she underwent addiction treatment.
She now lives in Skibbereen, works with Saint Vincent de Paul and mobility impaired elderly people, said her solicitor. “I have a raft of references,” he told Judge David Waters. “She really has done Trojan work since all this happened.” He noted she had no further trouble with authorities and struck out the case.
Gary Martin (30) of Knocklebede, Kilcummin, was sentenced for assault on October, 20, 2024. The judge said he appeared “completely unrepentant and unremorseful” at his hearing. He held no previous convictions apart from road traffic violations but his lack of remorse was a deciding factor in the sentencing.
The judge gave a two-month sentence suspended for two years, taking into account a related charge for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.