Wexford District Court round-up: Assault on woman, drug driving and harassment among charges heard

By Megan Farrell, Wexford People

Wexford District Court has recently dealt with a range of cases, from assault charges to dangerous driving incidents.

A Wexford man was given a sentence in relation to an assault on a woman.

Peter Dalton (53) of 1 Follyhouse Lane, New Ross, Wexford, was present in court via video link from prison in relation to an assault and trespassing charge that took place on February 1 2024 at 24 The Bull Lawn, New Ross.

It was heard that on the day in question Dalton entered the home of Ms. Shakira Berry and punched her in the side of her face. Ms. Berry was not present in court but had previously stated that she wished to give a victim impact statement but failed to do so. The matter had been adjourned a number of times and therefore Judge Staunton continued with the case in the absence of a victim impact statement.

Gerry Flynn, solicitor for the accused, told the court that Dalton is currently serving a three year sentence for an assault matter which was heard at Wexford Circuit Court on February 4 2025. Mr. Flynn told the court that on the day in question Dalton was drinking and was not in a good place, he was caring for his sick mother who unfortunately passed away shortly after the incident with Ms. Berry took place.

Judge Staunton imposed a sentence of two months to start from June 10 in relation to the assault and the trespass charge was taken into consideration.

Prison Sentence for Road Traffic Matters

A Wexford man was given a five month imprisonment sentence for a number of road traffic charges. Aidan Meyler (55) of Sandymount, Cliff Road, Rosslare, Wexford, was stopped at Coast Road, Rosslare, on February 2 2024 in relation to multiple road traffic offences including no tax, no insurance, no NCT, and failure to produce documents in relation to these charges.

Meyler has nine previous convictions for similar road traffic offences. Edward King, solicitor for the defendant, told the court that Meyler had recently purchased a new car and simply forgot to change the insurance over. Mr. King said the defendant is living on a property to the rear of his sister’s house and never received the fixed charge notice and did not know about these matters until a court date came to light.

He asked the court for leniency in circumstances where there was a delay in the matter as Meyler was certified medically unfit to attend court due to a bone disease. He also works in transport and will ultimately lose his job in the event of a disqualification and will need to make arrangements.

Judge Staunton commented on how Meyler works in transport but yet all of his previous convictions relate to road traffic offences. He disqualified Meyler from driving and sentenced him to five months imprisonment.

Meyler subsequently appealed the decision and the matter will be heard before the next sessions of District Court Appeals before Wexford Circuit Court.

Wexford District Court recently dealt with the case of a man charged with harassing a woman he had met online.

Wayne Culbert (33) of Rathpatrick, Slievrue, Kilkenny, was before the court on charges of harassment of a woman he had met online in August 2023. Culbert and the woman dated for a short period and when she told him she was no longer interested in pursuing the relationship he began to call and message her phone constantly. Gardaí told the court that on one occasion Culbert had locked the woman in his car to prevent her from leaving.

Judge Kevin Staunton initially refused jurisdiction and sent the matter forward for service of the book of evidence for trial in the Circuit Court. However, in the absence of a charge of false imprisonment Judge Staunton then accepted jurisdiction and adjourned the matter to July 28 to be heard within Wexford District Court.

Bail Refused in Dangerous Driving Matter

A Wexford man was brought before the Court on charges of dangerous driving. Garda Niall Brophy confirmed he arrested John Nash (39) of 125 Mount Prospect, Wexford, in respect of a dangerous driving incident to which Nash replied: “I don’t know what you’re on about”.

Nash was charged with eight offences, six of which relate to dangerous driving. Garda Brophy told the court that Nash is disqualified from driving for a period of six years but was observed driving at Clonard Road, Wexford. When he was pursued by Gardaí he failed to pull in and overtook multiple cars and caused the Gardaí to reach a speed of 174kmh in a 60kmh zone during their pursuit. Gardaí stated that Nash had previously undertook not to drive in a previous bail bond. The Gardaí were therefore objecting to bail as they feel Nash will continue driving no matter what sentence the court imposes.

Andrew Bolger BL, instructed by Tim Cummings solicitor, informed the court that the other charges Nash has before the court are of a less serious nature and the defendant has informed him that it was not him driving the vehicle. John Nash was then sworn in and gave evidence that he was not driving the car as at the time in question he was on the way home from work in Dublin where his employer had both picked him up and dropped him off. Nash stated that he is disqualified from driving and would therefore not drive a car.

Mr. Bolger BL outlined to the court that Nash is 39 years of age, he has had a number of dangerous driving matters dealt with within the district court previously, and asked for the benefit of the doubt in circumstances where Gardaí did not stop the vehicle.

Judge Staunton refused bail and remanded Nash in custody to appear by video link on June 17 2025.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 24th

A Wexford man was before the District Court in relation to multiple road traffic charges. Bogdan Crivohija (32) of 4 Westgate Park, Wexford, was before the court for charges including drug driving, no insurance, no license, and failing to produce documents.

Garda JP Scallan gave evidence that on October 10 2023 he stopped a vehicle being driven by Crivohija in relation to having no insurance while speaking with the driver who identified himself as Bogdan Crivohija.

Garda Scallan told the court he could smell cannabis and subsequently carried out an oral fluid test which returned a positive result for cannabis. The defendant was arrested and conveyed to Wexford Garda Station where a blood test showed a reading of 21.4mg of cannabis per 100ml of blood.

Eileen O’Neill, solicitor for the defendant, informed the court that there was a plea in relation to the drug driving matter but not to the no license and no insurance matters. A copy of Crivohija’s license was handed to the court and that charge was struck out.

In relation to the no insurance charge Ms. O’Neill told the court that Crivohija was driving his friends car on the night in question and has fully comprehensive insurance on his own car and is therefore covered to be driving this car. The owner of the car had returned to a different country and had left the car behind at the defendant’s house.

Judge Staunton convicted Crivohija of drug driving and imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months and the other matters were struck out.

A Wexford man was before the District Court on drug driving charges. The court heard that on October 2 2023 at Hill Street, Wexford Gardaí were carrying out a checkpoint when they stopped Darren O’Grady (27) of Foulksmills, Clongeen, Wexford. Garda Cathal Burke gave evidence that O’Grady gave a saliva sample that returned positive for cocaine.

Andrew Bolger BL, instructed by Tim Cummings solicitor, told the court that O’Grady is a 27-year-old man with one child, he is a carpenter and roofer with no previous convictions and has not come to Gardaí attention since.

Judge Staunton remarked that “young people, particularly young men do not realise that substances stay in the body for quite sometime and they think that they are fine to drive when in fact they are not”.

He commented that O’Grady appears to be a decent and hardworking young man and in those circumstances applied the minimum mandatory sentence which is a 12-month driving disqualification and did not impose a fine.

A Wexford town motorist was before the District Court on a no insurance charge. Thomas Clarke (56) of 23 Corish Park was stopped on 21 March 2024 where it was found that his insurance had expired in October of 2023. Clarke has four previous road traffic convictions and also one assault conviction. Judge Staunton fined Clarke €500 with four months to pay.

Jospeh Mahon (43) of no fixed abode was charged with drink driving, no insurance, and failure to produce insurance. Garda Breheny gave evidence that Mahon was driving in New Ross on December 17 2023 when the Gardaí had cause to stop the vehicle, once stopped they formed the opinion that Mahon was driving under the influence. A breath test showed a result of 31mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Mahon was not in attendance and in those circumstances Judge Staunton convicted the defendant and issued a bench warrant for his sentencing.

A Gorey man was before the court for no tax and no NCT charges. Garda Swan gave evidence to the court that he stopped Gracjan Dettlaff (26) of 1 Baile Eoghan, Gorey, Wexford, on November 30 2024 on the Rosslare Road. Tim Cummings, solicitor for the accused, informed the court that Dettlaff was driving to see his partner who unwell at the time. Judge Staunton fined Dettlaff €400 with four months to pay in respect of the NCT charge and the other matters were struck out.