Listowel Court round-up: Christmas revelry, an All-Ireland final and tumbleweed in the street

By Anna Zacharias, The Kerryman

An All-Ireland final, an injured foot and pre-Christmas exuberance were amongst the defences heard before Judge David Waters at Listowel District Court last Thursday.

Blake O’Gorman (25) of 26 St Patrick’s Terrace, Tarbert was fined €400 for threatening and abusive behaviour. “’Twas the eve of the All-Ireland final,” his solicitor began in his defence. He added that his client’s recollection of the night was “very, very poor”.

Billy Heaphy (38) of 10 The Paddocks, Bridge Road, Listowel was fined €250 for intoxication in a public place that might cause a danger to himself or others. He was found stumbling home intoxicated on the Charles Street, Listowel at 5am on December 19, 2024, the court heard. “Clearly there was pre-Christmas exuberance going on,” said his solicitor Padraig O’Connell. “He was like tumbleweed out on the street. He went flying and came out the worst for it.”

Robert Shawn Carr was fined €400 for failure to display tax. In his defence, the solicitor told the court he had been repairing an old vehicle and decided to drive it to town because he had a “medical problem with his foot”.

Amy Curren (33) of 13 Glenach, Sandhill Road, Ballybunion was ordered to make a donation of €250 to Little Blue Heroes Foundation after using abusive language to gardaí in a dispute involving her partner’s dog. The dog was known to the judge, as it had appeared in previous court cases.

“So, the dog has previous convictions?” asked the judge.

“The dog has more convictions than Amy Curren, to be frank,” said her solicitor Brendan Ahern.

Hannah Finuncane (52) of Fourhane, Listowel was fined €450 for driving without car insurance. The court heard that she was responsible for driving her three-year-old grandchild to medical appointments and had thought she was insured. The judge exercised his discretion and did not disqualify her from driving.

Meanwhile, Ioan Plumb (30) of Pluckeen, Caherslee, Tralee, who is charged with dangerous driving in relation to a crash on Oakpark Road, Tralee, had his case adjourned to January 15 for as the court awaits directions from Department of Public Prosecution Directions. He was remanded on bail until November 20.