Ballyconnell court briefs

Community service At a sitting of Ballyconnell District Court this month, Judge Sean MacBride ordered that Adeshola Bankole (43), 14 Diamond Court, Belturbet, undertake 80 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison. A Probation Report had been submitted to the judge regarding the defendant, who was convicted in relation to a theft offence on December 10, last year. Aggressive overtaking Colm Maguire (22), 14 Erne Court, Belturbet, pleaded guilty before Judge Sean MacBride at the of Ballyconnell District Court to drink driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and careless driving (reduced from dangerous) at Corporation Lands, Belturbet on November 28 last year. The court heard that the defendant, who had no previous convictions for road traffic offences, was overtaking cars in an "aggressive" manner but no damage was done to any vehicles. Mr. Maguire was fined €500 and disqualified from driving for two years and three months for drink driving, fined €300 and disqualified from driving for one year concurrently for driving without insurance, with the other two offences taken into consideration. Trial by judge and jury At the same sitting, Paul McMahon (29), 26 Creighan Drive, Cavan, elected for trial by judge and jury in the Circuit Court in relation to a charge of entering The Bungalow, Kilconny, Belturbet as a trespasser on February 19 last year. Mr. McMahon was remanded on continuing bail to June 8 this year for preparation and service of a book of evidence. Charges against the defendant of theft and criminal damage were also put back to the same date. Made off with petrol A man who made off from a petrol station without paying for fuel appeared at the April sitting of Ballyconnell District Court. Marius Pupeils (29), no fixed abode, Boyle, pleaded guilty to the offence, which was at Doolan's Service Station, Blueball, Tullamore, Offaly on March 1 this year. The court heard how, at about 6pm, the defendant and another person filled up a van with €79 of fuel and made off without paying. The defendant, who had no previous convictions, had funds in court to discharge the money owing, Judge Sean MacBride was told. The judge directed that €100 be paid over to the injured party and, with consent, his bail money of €500 was paid over to solicitor Eirinn McKieran's office for donation to Temple Street Children's Hospital. He gave the defendant the benefit of the Probation of the Offenders Act. Tax returns Martin Clancy, Unchago House, Blacklion, was fined €750 (mitigated from €3,000) for failure to file tax returns on time. Similar offences by two businesses for which he is promoter - Greenspan Estates Ltd., Killycarney, Blacklion and Bloodstone Developments Ltd., Sligo Road, Toam, Blacklion - were taken into consideration. Nigel Mahood, Inishmore, Butlersbridge was also fined €750 (mitigated from €3,000) for failure to file tax returns on time. Farming hazards Oliver Reilly, Gartaquill, Belturbet appeared before Judge MacBride at Ballyconnell District Court this month for causing a hazard or potential hazard on a road through farming activities and for permitting dung and urine from animals to be left on a public road. Mr. Reilly pleaded guilty to the offences, which were at Gartaquill between November 17, 2008 and June 2, 2009. Judge MacBride ordered the defendant to fence his lands, prevent animals from straying onto the public road and remove a feeder from the side of the road. Adjourning the case until June 8 for this to be done, he also ordered the defendant to pay costs to Cavan County Council. The judge indicated that if his orders were complied with, the defendant would get the benefit of the Probation of the Offenders Act; if not, he will be fined.