Possession of a knife and drug driving were among the cases heard in Wexford
Wexford PeopleA number of cases were heard at Wexford District Court recently.
Joesph Walsh (47), previously of Oznam House Wexford, was before the court in relation to multiple charges including possession of a flick knife on November 13 2021 which he stated belonged to his grandfather.
The court heard that he is a man with 40 previous convictions but has not come to An Garda Síochána attention since the incidents.
Catriona Walsh, solicitor for the defendant, informed the court that Walsh had a psychological report carried out which was previously before the court and outlined the horrific circumstances of his childhood.
Ms Walsh outlined that while her client was previously homeless he now has a home which is outside of Wexford town.
The solicitor also informed the court of the positive strides Walsh is taking in his life namely that he attends at the Cornmarket Project and his GP frequently, and that while he did have difficulties with alcohol in the past he is now alcohol free.
Ms. Walsh also provided character references to the court as the defendant works seasonally with local farmers around Wexford.
Judge Cheatle queried if there is any family members who could take the knife as it is a family heirloom and in circumstances where Walsh could not nominate anyone a destruction order was made for the knife,
A six month sentence was imposed and suspended for twelve months with a further order of twelve months supervision by the Probation Services.
Former teacher gets suspended sentence
A former teacher was present in court in relation to multiple charges, including the breach of a safety order, assault, criminal damage, possession of drugs, threat to damage property, and threats to kill.
The court heard a brief outline of the facts being that the former teacher had criminally damaged a cell wall by smearing feaces on it which cost €250 to clean, he was in possession of cannabis to the value of €60 for personal use on one occasion and on another he had in his possession cannabis to the value of €175 which he stated was also for personal use.
The accused made admissions in interview in relation to a threat to damage the window of a local bank and also to a threat to kill of the manager at that establishment. The man was charged with assault as he entered a local café with a hurley which he used to smack the bottom of a barista working there, who did not wish to provide a victim impact statement.
Marie Murphy, solicitor for the accused, outlined to the court that her client is a former teacher who has suffered with his mental health in recent times and these were out of character events for the man.
Ms Murphy pointed out the significant improvement in her clients overall appearance since he was last before the court and stated that he has been engaging with mental health services and the probation services.
Judge Cheatle imposed a six month sentence suspended for twelve months, and also ordered €250 to be paid to the state in relation to the criminal damage, and €500 compensation to be paid to the barista in relation to the assault.
A Wexford man was before the court on charges of drug driving.
Eoin McDermott (39) of Harpoonstown, Bridgetown, Wexford, was not present in court and the hearing proceeded in his absence.
Garda Scallan informed the court that on April 16 2024 while attending at the scene of a collision he received an alert of a vehicle passing by without tax which he subsequently followed.
Once the car stopped Garda Scallan stated there was a smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and the accused confirmed he had smoked the previous night but not on the day in question
The accused carried out a saliva sample which returned a positive sample for cannabis, the vehicle was seized in relation to the no tax, and accused was arrested and conveyed back to Wexford Garda Station.
A sample of blood was taken by a doctor at the station which returned a result of 5.5mg of cannabis per 100ml of blood.
Ross Pratt O’Brien BL, barrister for the accused, stated that there was no mitigating circumstances he could submit to the court in circumstances where his client was not present.
Judge Cheatle convicted in his absence and imposed a €300 fine with six months to pay and a one year driving disqualification.
Stuart Patrick Byrne (40) of 9 Hantoon Road, The Faythe, Wexford, was convicted of driving without an accompanied driver as a learner at The Faythe, Wexford, on October 13 2024. Byrne was fined €200 with six months to pay.
A New Ross woman plead guilty to a charge of careless driving at Knockavilla, New Ross, Wexford.
Siobhan Prendergast (51) of 18 Bellville, New Ross, Wexford, was edging out of a T-Junction when she did not see a car coming from her right and the oncoming car struck the front of her vehicle.
The court heard that there was some over growth of hedges on the junction at the time that may have obscured her vision at the difficult junction.
Gerry Flynn, solicitor for the defendant, informed the court that the insurance company had settled the matter and there was no pending injury claims. In those circumstances Judge Cheatle struck the matter out.
Matthew O’Dea of 45 Bloomfield Avenue, Dublin, was fined €150 with four months to pay in relation to a speeding charge on March 19 2025 at the N11 Ferrycarrig, Wexford.
O’Dea was travelling at a speed of 71kmh when the posted speed is 60kmh.
Denis Paul O’Connor (51) of 50 Kilrane Manor, Wexford, was before the court in relation to having no tax on his vehicle on January 11 2025 at the N11 Newcastle, Wexford.
O’Connor was fined €150 with four months to pay.
The court heard that Saher Alahwal (22) of 12A Windmill Heights, Wexford, admitted to driving without insurance on March 10 2025 at Belvedere Road when his vehicle was seized. Alahwal was fined €250 with six months to pay.
A Wexford man plead guilty to offences of driving without NCT, tax, and insurance.
Garda Brennan gave evidence that on March 16 2025 at Whitemill, Wexford, he observed the documents in the windscreen of a vehicle owned by Sean Murphy (28) of 9 Elm Park, Coolcotts, Wexford, and noted that all documents were out of date.
Jade Wright, solicitor for the defendant, told the court Murphy was struggling with a gambling addiction at the time which he has since overcome with the support of his family and friends, he has not come to An Garda Síochána attention since the incident and is also a man of no previous convictions.
Judge Cheatle fined the accused €250 with six months to pay.
Jan Golciter (40) of 133 Cluain Dara, Coolcotts, Wexford, plead guilty to driving without insurance on May 8 2025 at Whitemill South. Golciter was fined €250 with six months to pay.
A man with two previous no insurance convictions was before the court on a third offence of driving without insurance.
Mark O’Neill (40) of 50 Ard Uisce, Wexford, was stopped at Whiterock Hill when Garda Brennan noticed the vehicle did not have insurance.
Judge Cheatle fined O’Neill €400 with six months to pay and also imposed a 4-year disqualification in circumstances where this is the accused’s third conviction for no insurance.
Dean Colm Moore (19) of Rochestown, Duncormick, Wexford, plead guilty to driving without a seatbelt.
Judge Cheatle imposed a fine of €100 with four months to pay.
John Cassidy of 72 John Sweeney Park, Carlow, was fined €150 with four months to pay in relation to a speeding offence.
On January 3 2025 Cassidy was detected travelling at a speed of 116kmh on the N11 Crossabeg which is a 100kmh road.
Tony Jones (51) of St. Annes, Clearistown, Wexford, was before the court in relation to drug driving charges dated June 5, 2021.
Andrew Bolger BL made an application to dismiss the charges on the basis of delay which was refused by Judge Cheatle.
Garda Breheny gave evidence that on the day in question he was operating a checkpoint at Bridgetown when he stopped a vehicle being driven by Jones which had a strong smell of cannabis.
Garda Breheny carried out a roadside fluid test on the accused which returned a positive result for cannabis.
Andrew Bolger BL told the court that Jones has previous drug problems but suffered a heart attack at the start of the year and is making efforts to improve his lifestyle.
Judge Cheatle stated that the evidence is clear cut in the case and imposed the minimum penalty of a one year disqualification.
An offence that dated back to 2016 that was been in the courts system since 2018 was dealt with on July 2 2025.
Derek O’Sullivan (66) of The Granite Lodge, Ramstown, Gorey, Wexford, was before the court on charges where he allegedly damaged and sold a car to the value of €25,000 belonging to one Jason ‘Jay’ Stran.
The prosecuting Garda, Garda McGrath, is on long-term sick leave and the case had been adjourned from February 2025 to July peremptorily against the State to accommodate this.
In circumstances where Garda McGrath was still on sick leave Judge Cheatle stated the case will need to be struck out on it’s fifteenth adjournment.
The injured party asked Judge Cheatle if the case could be adjourned to one final occasion for hearing.
He outlined that he brought the car in question, a 1991 Ford Sierra Cosworth, was brought to a panel beaters when O’Sullivan had fallen out with the owners and “took it out” on his car which was then sold by the accused.
Mr. Stran informed the court the person who purchased the car is available as a witness.
Judge Cheatle informed the injured party that he could talk to the Garda Ombudsman in relation to the delay and that he should have sued him in a civil court to which the injured party responded “if the guards couldn’t prove it how could I”.
Inspector Darragh Jennings told the court that the State cannot prove the evidence without Garda McGrath present and is seeking one final adjournment in circumstances where not all of the delay is attributable to the State.
Ross Pratt O’Brien BL, barrister for the accused, informed the court he is seeking to have the matter dismissed as the words peremptorily have to mean something.
He outlined how this is an allegation of theft some nine years ago and his client is now in his 60s and not in the best of health.
Mr Pratt O’Brien BL confirmed that some of the delay has been due to the fact his client has needed surgeries as a result of his health issues.
The court heard that the car has ultimately been returned to the injured party.
Mr. Stran confirmed that a business bought the car and delivered it to a storage facility on his behalf.
However, he also confirmed that the car is in an irreparable state in circumstances where the damage done by O’Sullivan with a digger has damaged the roof and floor of the vehicle.
Judge Cheatle stated he is inclined to refer the matter to the Circuit Court considering the value of the car at the time if the defendant was contesting the matter.
Mr Pratt O’Brien BL took instruction from his client who offered a sum of money to the injured party out of court.
The court heard that a figure was agreed between the parties.