Cavan court briefs

Jailed for hospital assault Robertas Racyla (42), 47 Wylies Hill, Ballybay, was sentenced to four months imprisonment by Judge Sean MacBride, at Cavan District Court, for assaulting a member of the security staff at Cavan General Hospital. He was given a further four months prison sentence to run concurrently for obstructing a Garda in the execution of his duty at the hospital. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges. Outlining the facts, Inspector Seamus Boyle said that on January 3 last, Garda Duffy was requested to go to the hospital where a patient was extremely abusive and violent to staff. As the defendant was being arrested he was verbally abusive to gardaí. It later emerged that he assaulted a female security officer in the foyer of the hospital, grabbing her by the throat and pushing her back forcibly. Inspector Boyle said that in a second incident gardaí received a report of a man behaving aggressively towards hospital staff. A male was observed running from the hospital after having threatened a nurse. When gardaí moved to arrest the culprit, Mr. Racyla, he resisted. According to Inspector Boyle the defendant had four previous convictions including one for drink driving. Breege Mimnagh, solicitor defending, said that the incidents arose from the defendant's drink problem and that there were reports from a psychiatrist and his GP before the court. His doctor felt that the defendant suffered from an epileptic fit on the occasion causing him to hallucinate. Ms. Mimnagh informed the court that her client was living in Ireland for the past seven years and had been in employment until the downturn in the economy. The judge ruled as stated, recommending that the defendant be treated for his alcoholism and that he should also receive appropriate medical treatment for his epilepsy. He took public disorder charges into account and fixed bail in the event of appeal at €1,000 cash. Six-months for burglary A man with 24 previous convictions pleaded guilty to burglary at a June sitting of Cavan District Court. Joseph Smith, Greaghcrottagh, Tullyco, was charged with burglary at Seefin, Bailieborough on February 10 this year. Judge Sean MacBride was told that the defendant entered a boarded up house and took three bottles of brandy, a slash hook and some wire fencing. Describing the defendant as "dangerous", the judge said "he is not the happy-go-lucky amateur that he is presenting himself as today". Noting that Mr. Smith had twice previously been given suspended sentences, Judge MacBride sentenced him to six months in Castlerea Prison and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal. Suspended sentence At the same sitting of Cavan District Court, William Donoghue, 37 Ardkeen, Cavan, was put on a probation bond for one year and given a suspended sentence of three months for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words at Cavan Garda Station on June 12, 2009. Judge MacBride was told that the defendant "has stayed out of trouble" since. Community service order Two co-defendants appeared at Cavan District Court in relation to an incident where cars in Cootehill were damaged. Jason Mulally (35), 17 Castlegate, Townparks, Cavan, is to work 200 hours community service in lieu of six months in prison if suitable for the order. The defendant, who had 39 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Dernakesh, Canningstown on February 9 this year. The court heard that Mr. Mulally had paid €300 compensation for the damage. Judge MacBride ordered the preparation of a probation report to determine suitability for the order. Francis Smith, Greaghcrottagh, Tullyco, Cootehill, appeared in relation to damage to a different vehicle during the same incident. Mr. Smith, who had 91 previous convictions, had paid compensation the court heard. Judge MacBride ordered he work 100 hours community service if suitable. Fines Mark Greenan, Cortubber, Cootehill, was fined €750 (mitigated from €3,000) for failing to file tax returns for 2007 and 2008 by the required date. Siobhan Neary, trading as The Breffni Inn, 2 Connolly Street, Cavan was fined €750 for selling alcohol without a licence. The court heard that the defendant had two previous convictions for the offence but the licence was now in order.