District court briefs

Sophisticated theft Andrejs Silokovs, (28), 9 The Ashes, Co. Meath, was sentenced to six months in Castlerea Prison on theft charges. He pleaded guilty at Cavan District Court to stealing 18 bottles of designer perfume and aftershave from Connolly's Pharmacy, Main Street, Cavan, on September 24, 2007. The goods were valued at €835.95. He was also charged on the same date with stealing a Fuji camcorder, valued at €300, from One Hour Photo, Cavan. Inspector Alan Cunningham, outlining the facts of the case, stated that at 4.05pm on the date in question the defendant and two accomplices entered One Hour Photo and attempted to steal the camcorder. The owner alerted gardaí and following examination of CCTV footage they established the make of the vehicle the culprits used. It was subsequently located and following a search of it gardaí found 18 bottles of perfume. Enquiries revealed they had been stolen from Connolly's Pharmacy earlier. The defendant and his accomplices admitted stealing the items and revealed that they were heroin addicts. Inspector Cunningham informed the court that the defendant was in custody serving a four-month sentence for theft, handed down at Cloverhill Court on February 1, 2010. Damien Rudden, solicitor defending, said his client was the father of a young child. He had been living in Ireland for four years and was a plasterer by trade. Unfortunately he became involved in drug-taking and became an addict. Remarking that it was a sophisticated theft, Judge MacBride expressed the hope that the defendant would overcome his drug addiction under the treatment programme he was participating in while in prison. He complemented gardaí for their excellent detection work and sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment in Castlerea Prison. Accident on bypass Andrew Rossiter, Corravahan, Drung, was fined €250 by Judge Sean MacBride at Cavan District Court for the careless driving of a car at Annagelliffe, Cavan, on May 26, 2009. He was further fined €250 and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving without insurance on the occasion. The defendant pleaded guilty to the summonses and Inspector Alan Cunningham, outlining the facts of the case, explained that gardaí received a report of a two-car accident on the Cavan bypass. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital with minor injuries and the defendant informed gardaí that he had taken his eyes off the road for a second and collided with this vehicle on the hard shoulder. Larry Burke, solicitor defending, said that his client had worked as an apprentice electrician and hoped to get a job as a mechanic. The judge ruled as stated. Drink driving charges Marie McCann, Tullyinchin, Mountainlodge, was fined €150 and disqualified from driving for two years and three months by Judge MacBride at Cavan District Court for driving with excess alcohol, (131mg/100ml blood) at Doumrat, Stradone, on April 13, 2009. Michael Ryan, solicitor defending, said that Mrs. McCann was never in court before. She was driving her husband home on the night concerned. At the defendant's request, Judge MacBride postponed the disqualification until August 1. At the same court, Thomas O'Rourke, (27), Townparks, Ballyhaise, was fined €250 and disqualified from driving for three years by Judge Sean MacBride for driving with excess alcohol (79mg/100ml breath) at Main Street, Cavan, on November 2, 2009. Michael Ryan, solicitor defending, said that it was the defendant's first time in court. He was a carpenter and had secured a job opportunity in Dublin. He was seeking a postponement of the driving disqualification until he could make alternative transport arrangements. Recommending the bus service, the judge postponed the disqualification until August 10.