Cavan court briefs

Chase at 190km per hour A Polish national now residing in Belfast who overtook three cars on the Ballinagh to Cavan road appeared before Cavan District Court charged with dangerous driving at Shannow, Ballinagh, on July 31. Rafal Litwinek, 13 Chichester Road, Belfast, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving and Judge William Hamill imposed a fine of €300. Superintendent Ken Brennan said he was driving in an unmarked car and he was the third car in a line of three. The car in front of him began to overtake the car in front of it. The defendant came from behind Supt. Brennan and began to overtake all three cars. It had been raining heavily earlier and the road was wet. There was oncoming traffic but the defendant managed to get back in before anything happened. Supt. Brennan had to accelerate to a speed of 190km in order to catch the defendant. There was a minor road to the left where the incident occurred as well as entries to a number of private houses. When stopped, Mr. Litwinek was very co-operative. Cross-examined by Brid Mimnagh, solicitor defending, witness said where the accused overtook there was a broken white line. Ms Mimnagh said her client thought he was only doing 140km at the time. He now accepted he was going a little faster and that the superintendent had to increase his speed. Ms Mimnagh was seeking to have the charge reduced to careless driving. Superintendent Brennan said he was amicable to that. Not a happy birthday A 39-year-old man who returned from England to appear at Cavan District Court on his birthday did not receive a birthday present when he pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge. Stephen Farrell, 37 Leyland Road, Lee, London, was convicted of driving with 52mg/100ml breath at Mulrick, Loch Gowna, on July 31. He was fined €200 and disqualified from driving for two years and one day. Brid Mimnagh, solicitor defending, said that her client had returned from England to face the charge. He was celebrating his birthday on the day of the court and was pleading guilty. He had lodged €300 as bail and was willing to have the fine paid out of it. Judge William Hamill said that was acceptable and he imposed a fine of €200. He added: "I will leave him some money to celebrate his birthday but I hope he will not be driving." Remanded in custody A Russian national has been remanded in custody when he appeared at Cavan District Court on a theft charge to appear at a sitting of Harristown District Court on Friday. August 14. Oscar Dervinieks of no fixed abode was charged that on August 6 at Goods Store of Tesco in Monaghan Shopping Centre, Monaghan town, he stole two lap tops to the value of €1,600. He was also charged with possessing a brown bag, which had tin foil lined in it to avoid being detected by the security system in the shop. Cannabis charge Paul Kelly, Lough Davin, Loughduff, who appeared at Cavan District Court charged with possessing cannabis at the local Garda Station, Farnham Street, on August 3, was remanded on bail to appear at the court on September 17. He was also charged with fighting by punching and kicking Gavin Reilly and verbally threatening him by saying, "I will knock your f..... head off", at Main Street, Arva, on the same date. The defendant was further charged with engaging in offensive conduct towards Brian Fitzpatrick on the same occasion. Kelly was also charged with using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace on the same date and being intoxicated.