This article is from page 16 of the 2007-04-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A BUSKER who got arrested after his bodhran was stolen in Ennis told a judge he was “sorry for enjoying Pad- dy’s Day”’.
Ralph Perkins of Rinbow Cottage, Cadamstown, Birr, was before En- nis District Court on a Public Order Charge after being arrested during the
festivities in the town on March 17.
He told the court, “All I was doing was playing and busking and because I didn’t move on immediately the garda told me to, he shackled me and I was arrested.”
Perkins told Judge Joseph Mangan that he believed the guard was “out of order. I wasn’t doing any harm. I was just enjoying Paddy’s Day.”
The defendant added that he “missed a session” because of being locked in a cell after being arrested.
Perkins said that he had earlier had his bodhran stolen while playing on the streets of Ennis.
“All I said to him (the garda) was, why don’t you do your job and find my bodhran?”
Judge Mangan said that “what con-
cerns me, is how you plan to celebrate NM Cle gener: hae
The garda due to prosecute the case against Perkins was not in court.
Asked by Judge Mangan whether he would like to apply to the court for a direction, Inspector Michael Gal- lagher said he would. Judge Mangan struck out the charge against Perkins, who bowed and thanked the court.