District court briefs

Drove without due care A Westmeath motorist was ordered to donate €500 to the Clones Church of Ireland Restoration Fund when he pleaded guilty at the local district court to driving without due acre and attention at Largy, Clones, on March 3, 2009. Inspector Alan Cunningham said the defendant was travelling towards Lurgan with his father, heading to Monaghan from clones. As he came to the traffic lights in Clones the car in front of him slowed down as the lights were changing. The defendant overtook the car and drove through the lights as they were changing to amber. There was no accident and the defendant had no previous convictions. Kevin Hickey, solicitor defending, said his client had lost his sister to cancer two years ago and his father was suffering from it as well. His client had a chance of joining the marines and if he had a conviction he could lose that opportunity. Threatening behaviour Lee McAdoo, 36 Clones Road, Newbliss, was fined €500 at Clones District Court for using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Fermanagh Street, Clones, on March 1, 2009. Inspector Alan Cunningham said at 3am, Garda Forde received a call of a dispute in the Paragon nightclub. He carried out an investigation and discovered that the defendant had been involved. The defendant had left the nightclub and made his way up Fermanagh Street. Garda Forde found him kicking the door of a premises. McAdoo had one previous conviction. Paul Madden, solicitor defending, said his client had been at the disco and an altercation occurred between him and another individual. He was put out of the nightclub and had his shirt stripped off him. The defendant did contact the Gardaí himself. Judge Sean MacBride said he was putting a stop to this type of behaviour and he was fining the defendant €500, he could appeal his decision to the Circuit Court if he wanted too. Reconnaissances were fixed in the event of an appeal in the defendant's own cash bond of €500. Excess alcohol The following were fined at Clones District Court for driving with excess alcohol: Romaldas Bilius, 29 Main Street, Roslea, Fermanagh, 57mg/100ml breath, €300 and disqualified from driving for four years; and Paul Maguire, Clonmackin, Newtownbutler, 140mg/100ml blood, €300 and disqualified for two years and three months. Public order Tomas Kleinas, 146 Mullaghmatt, Monaghan town, was fined €500 at Clones District Court for using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Fermanagh street on January 30. Inspector Alan Cunningham said at 1.55am, gardaí observed the defendant in Fermanagh Street in a very intoxicated state and arguing with members of the public. He was asked to leave but he failed to do so. Sean T. O'Reilly, solicitor defending, said his client had a drink problem. His partner was pregnant and was hoping to turn a new chapter in his life. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Donation Shane Carolan, Barleyhill, Kingscourt, was ordered to donate €250 to the Bailieboro Cancer Fund at Virginia District Court when he pleaded guilty to a public order offence in Kingscourt last month. He was charged with using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Station Road, Kingscourt, on February 28. Inspector Ray McMahon said at 2am the defendant was intoxicated and was trying to gain entry to the Dun a Ri night club. His behaviour was unacceptable ion the night. However, he did subsequently apologise to the Gardaí. Ann McGarry, solicitor defending, said her client accepted his behaviour was not good on the night and he was sorry. He has some money in court with him if the judge saw fit to make a donation.