District court briefs

Motorist banned for 20 years A Cavan motorist who appeared before Cootehill District Court with 27 previous motoring offences was sentenced to six months and disqualified from driving for 20 years when he pleaded guilty to having no insurance. Terence McDonagh, 5B The Drumlins, Cavan town, was stopped at Corravahan, Drung, on March 26. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Six months to raise €1,000 Darren Boyle, 1 Dairybrae, Cootehill was given six months to raise €1,000 in compensation when he appeared at the local district court on theft charges. He was charged that on May 24 at Bridge Street he stole tools to the value of €3,000 and at Market Street he stole a camera valued €200 the property of Paul Carragher. Inspector Ray McMahon said at 4.45am the defendant and another person removed the tools from a car and they also took a camera from the other car. They set alight to the cars as well. All the items were recovered and it was totally out of character for the defendant. He was led by the other individual and he had no previous convictions. Inspector McMahon said insurance covered the fire damage. Judge Sean MacBride said the defendant came from a good family background and got involved with the other individual. "I will give him until July 1 to raise the money." Excess Alcohol The following were fined at Cootehill District Court for driving with excess alcohol: Conor Robinson, 6 Derrylaughan Avenue, Coalisland, Tyrone, 71mg/100ml breath, €500 and disqualified for three years; Pauline Smith, 37 New Line, Cootehill, 176mg/100ml urine, €150 and disqualified for two years three months from June 1; Gerard Lynch, Ballintran, Shantonagh, Castleblayney, 37mg/100ml breath, €4,500 and disqualified for one year from April 1, recognisances fixed; Anna Flynn, Edenbrone, Latton, Castleblayney, 42mg/100ml breath, €150 and disqualified for two years three months; and Niall Dempsey, Mountainlodge, Lisnalong, 56mg/100ml breath €500 and disqualified for four years and recognisances fixed. Careless Driving Darius Stankevicius, 3 Glenvale, Cavan Road, Cootehill, was fined €300 and ordered to pay €100 witness expenses at the local district court when convicted of careless driving at Boyher, Rockcorry on September 17. He was also fined €150 and disqualified from driving for six months for having no insurance on his vehicle. No Insurance The following were ordered to make donations to St. Vincent de Paul when they appeared before Cootehill District Court summoned for having no insurance: Kieran Smith, Ballinahia, Cootehill, €200; Diogo Oliveira, 1 Annalee Grove, Errigal, Cootehill, €150; Barry Byrne, Cootehill, €100; while Garry Dawe, 395 Beechmoune Drive, Dundalk was fined €150.