Tralee Court round-up: ‘One night of madness’ and a mother’s grocery thefts
The KerrymanCases of petty theft and a ‘night of madness’ came before Judge David Waters Tralee District Court on Wednesday, March 18.
William Mullane (29) of Templeathea, Athea, County Limerick, appeared after allegations of spitting in the face of a garda in Killarney last May. He pleaded guilty to assault or obstruction of a peace officer, as well as public intoxication to an extent it would be a danger to himself or others and threatening or abusive behaviour on Main Street, Killarney.
The court heard a garda came across Mr Mullane in a dispute and he became aggressive and grabbed the garda, causing security staff from a hotel to intervene and assist. The defendant then spat in the garda’s face as he was put into the garda van. Solicitor for the defence, Brendan Ahern, noted the accused had lived in Australia for years and travelled to Ireland for the case. The judge noted spitting in the face of a garda was an indictable offence.
Mr Ahern told the court his client returns to Ireland to cut soil on a family farm and had himself described the night in question as “a night of madness”. He had later emailed the garda a full apology and donated AUD $2,000 (€1,209) to the garda charity Little Blue Heroes.
“So, he’s met the matter as well as he can,” said Mr Ahern, noting his client was “very ashamed” and had a clean record
Judge Waters struck the case, explaining he did so because the defendant had no previous convictions, had pled guilty and made a donation.
“I’m not going to give him a criminal conviction for ‘one night of madness’,” said the judge.
Mary Sherlock (33) of Killeen Heights, Tralee was fined €300 after pleading guilty to theft of €74 of groceries at Dunnes on North Circular Road in January. All items were covered. “Finances were tight at the time,” said her solicitor, Mr Ahern. Ms Sherlock is “a mother to six children under the age of 15 and things aren’t always easy,” he said.
“It’s the last time I’ll deal with it by way of a fine,” said the judge.
Margaret Breen (56) of Mitchels Avenue, Tralee was given a three-month suspended sentence for the theft of €31 worth of groceries from Corrib Oil on June 2, 2024. Her last conviction for theft dated from a May 2024 offence.
“This matter should have been brought forward at that time,” said Sergeant Chris Manton. He noted the offence occurred three weeks before she received a suspended sentence.
“She’s not come to notice in recent times,” said her solicitor Pádraig O’Connell, adding his client co-operated fully with gardaí.
Kieran Quilligan (37) of Connor Terrace, Boherbee, Tralee, represented by solicitor Nuala Liston, had his case sent forward to the next sitting of Tralee Circuit Court for charges of affray and the production of a wooden bat and a shovel.
Finally, a man owing more than €2,600 in child support to his former partner, avoided a jail sentence by paying a sum of €915. The judge noted that the man was “continuously being dragged to court” and paying at the last minute.
He adjourned the case to April 14, warning if it happened again he would commit him to prison.