Judge condemns defendant’s UCD top

A Longford man who appeared before Cavan District Court wearing a UCD top got a shock when the presiding judge condemned him for doing so when it was discovered that he never attended the college. Ciaran Higgins, Cloncullen, Ballymahon, was summoned that on April 10, 2009, at Railway Road, Cavan, he possessed knives and other articles and was directed to donate €500 to the Cavan Hospice. When the case was called Mr. Higgins stood up and Judge Sean MacBride commented on the fact that he was wearing a UCD jacket. However, when it was revealed that the defendant had not attended the prestigious college the judge took umbrage at the fact. “I'm a proud UCD man and you are not entitled to wear a UCD jacket,†he claimed. Judge MacBride said didn't want his alma mater being dragged through the mud. “I take umbrage that you are wearing that jacket.†The defendant told the court that he was given the jacket by a friend but Judge MacBride ordered him to return the jacket to the friend. Outlining the facts of the case, Inspector Dermot Drea said at 3.10am gardaí stopped a group of youths, including the defendant, on Railway Road. When the defendant was searched it was discovered he had 3.5-inch knife in his possession. He didn't have the knife for any specific purpose. Socket set theft charge A Russian national who pleaded not guilty to stealing a socket set from a Kingscourt garage was remanded in custody with consent to bail when he appeared at Ballyconnell District Court in connection with the matter. Zigimantas Gridziuska, 15 Clough Valley, Carrickmacross, was charged that on November 4, 2010, at Anderson's Garage, Lisaturrin, Kingscourt, he stoles an Irimo socket set valued €100. Judge Sean MacBride remanded the defendant to appear at Cavan District Court on Thursday, November 18. Arrested for own good A Fermanagh man who acted violently outside a nightclub in Ballyconnell had to be arrested for his own good according to a garda sergeant who was giving evidence at the local district court. Valentine Ziberts, 26 Birch Grove, Teemore, was fined €300 for using or engaging in threatening behaviour at Main Street, Ballyconnell, on October 3. A charge of being intoxicated was taken into account. Sergeant Paudge Tobin told the court that he was on duty in the early hours when he came across a row outside Moe's nightclub. The defendant was being quite violent and aggressive. He was asked to leave the area but didn't and was arrested for his own good. Possession of cannabis A Galway man who was caught in possession of cannabis while he was serving a sentence in Loughan House was fined €200 when he appeared at Ballyconnell District Court. Sean McDonagh (32) of 10 Bru Na Mara, Fort Lorenzo, Galway, was charged that on February 17 at Loughan House, Blacklion, he was in possession of cannabis. Inspector Seamus Boyle said the defendant's cell was searched and cannabis with a street value of €10 was discovered. He had no previous convictions for drug offences. Damien Rudden solicitor defending said his client was currently serving a prison term and was not due for release until next February. He was pleading guilty and co-operated fully. No insurance fines The following were fined at Virginia District Court for having no insurance on their vehicles: Arturs Jakovlevs, 90B Aughnaskerry, Cavan, €500; Gritenas Zygimantas, 5 Maple Avenue, The Gallops, Cavan town, €500 and disqualified for two years; Michael McArdle, 9 Barora Park, Kells Road, Bailieboro €300; Gerard Fox, 52 Forest Park, Virginia, €250; Darragh Brady, Tullyco, Cootehill, was directed to donate €200 to Virginia Cancer Care. Crossed the white line Johnny Tully, Ardamagh, Moynalty, Kells, was fined €200 at Virginia District Court for crossing a continuous white line at Canningstown on April 4. The defendant had three previous convictions. Warrants issued A bench warrant was issued at Virginia District Court for Garty McNamee, Correagh, Virginia, when he failed to appear on public order offences at Main Street, Virginia, on October 23. A second warrant was issued for Caoimhin O'Callaghan, Mucker, Inniskeen, Monaghan, when he failed to appear on a charge of driving while disqualified at Meath Hill, Drumconrath, Kingscourt, on March 12. He was also charged with having no insurance, no driving licence, fraudulent use of a number plate, no tax and no tax displayed on his vehicle as well as possessing stolen property. Remanded on bail Michael Duke, 33 Finglaswood Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, was remanded on bail to appear at Virginia District Court on January 4 charged with aggravated burglary at Drumallaght, Virginia, on August 15, 2009. The defendant was also charged with endangerment and producing an article in the course of a fight. Banned and fined The following were fined at Virginia District Court for driving with excess alcohol: Gordon Chambers, 61 Woodview Estate, Bailieboro, 44/100 breath, €250 and disqualified for one year from April 1; and Raymond Farrelly, Deerpark, Virginia, 47/100 breath, €200 and disqualified for two years three months. Virginia woman is sentenced for a savage assault A victim who was hit with a hammer in the course of a row told Virginia District Court that she wanted the woman who attacked her to be sent to prison. Helen Harten told the court that following the dispute she was scared to go to work and when she did she would lock all the doors because she was afraid of the defendant. Gemma Fitzsimons of 73 Swiftbrook Glen, Virginia, was sentenced to six months when she pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Harten at Lurganboy, Virginia, on April 11. She was also given a six-month concurrent sentence for damaging the window of a car, the property of Ms Harten on the same occasion. Superintendent Gerry O'Brien told the court the defendant called to the home of Ms Harten to speak with her ex-boyfriend with a young baby. He was not there so she left. She returned later, picked up a hammer and smashed the window of the car before she struck Ms Harten with it. Defending solicitor Martin Cosgrove said his client had been fighting with her ex-boyfriend. She didn't mean to hit Ms Harten. The defendant had returned to full time education. When asked by Judge Sean MacBride if she wanted him to send the defendant away for six months, Ms Harten said she did. Judge MacBride described the assault as “nastyâ€. He had read the report on the defendant and it made for depressing reading. Mr. Cosgrove said his client had raised €700 by way of compensation but it was only a start. Judge MacBride said it was a case of extreme violence in which a hammer was used. “She will have to take her case to the circuit court,†he said. He fixed recognisances in her own cash bond of €1000. If bail was taken up the defendant was to obey a curfew between 10pm and 7am, abstain from alcohol, not frequent any licensed premises in District No. 5 and not contact the victim in the case. The reason the judge was imposing a sentence was the gravity of the offence and the effect it had on the victim. “It was a savage assault.†If the hammer had come down on the victim's head they could be talking about murder. The defendant had previous convictions and he had given her chances previously but they were not taken. He had placed the defendant on a bond back in 2007.