Published: Thursday, 25th February, 2010 5:00pm

Virginia court briefs

Sentenced for no insurance

A Sierra Leone national who was caught driving an uninsured car outside Virginia was sentenced to three months when he appeared before a sitting of the local district court.

James Fash of 38 Ardlow Manor, Mullagh, was sentenced for the offence that occurred at Drumgora, Virginia, on December 6. He was also given a concurrent three-month term for failing to produce a valid passport on the same date. The sentence was back dated to December 6.

Superintendent Colm Featherstone said the defendant came from Sierra Leone and had to flee because he feared for his life. He fled to another country and, from there, he came to Ireland.

Damien Rudden, solicitor defending, said his client didn't know the proper channels to go through to apply for asylum but Mr. Rudden had now done it for him. Mr. Fash had been in custody for the past 72 days plus another day in a garda station since the incident.

He came from a very difficult back ground. "The 72 days in custody had thought him a salutary lesson." He knew a lot about cars and a friend called to him to ask him to move a car from a filling station. While he was doing this, he was stopped a few miles away.

Judge Sean MacBride said he was sentencing the defendant to three months. With the time he had already served, his release would be imminent. Recognisances were fixed in the events of an appeal in his own cash bond of €500.

Stole wine from filling station

A Latvian national who stole a bottle of wine from a filling station in Roscommon was handed a three-month suspended sentence when he pleaded guilty to the offence at Virginia District Court. Deniss Amolins (28), Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff, was charged that on June 24 at Coyle Brothers Filling Station, Ballyleague, Lanesboro, Roscommon, he stole a bottle of wine, valued €8, the property of Noel Butler.

Garda Pat Murphy said that at 8.05am the defendant entered the filling station and took the bottle of wine and left without paying for it. The wine was not recovered.

Judge Sean MacBride said he wanted to warn people that anyone who came before him on a second charge of theft and if they were convicted they would be going away. "The only reason the defendant is not going away today is the fact he had no previous convictions." He warned the defendant to behave himself for the next twelve months.

Bail for alleged brothel operator

Gardaí said they were seeking substantial bail in a case in which a Romanian woman appeared before Virginia District Court charged with assisting in the management of a brothel in Monaghan town.

Florentina Parpala, 12 Dublin Street, Monaghan, was charged that on February 15, 2010, at 12 Dublin Street, Monaghan, she assisted in the management of a brothel. She was remanded on her own bail of €2,000 cash to appear at Monaghan Court on February 22.

Garda David O'Malley said the investigation was still on going and they were seeking the directions from the DPP. They would be seeking substantial bail. The defendant rented the accommodation and ran it as a brothel.

She was from Romania and she was over and back on a regular basis. "We would be looking for bail in the region of €2,000 for the defendant." Garda O'Malley said they had retained her passport and the defendant was living in rented accommodation but the owner didn't want her living there.

Judge Sean MacBride said if the defendant could not come up with the €2,000 bail money, he would remand the defendant in custody. Conditions of her bail would be that she provide a bone fide address in Monaghan, sign on daily at Monaghan Garda Station, surrender her national identity card and passport.