This article is from page 16 of the 2007-05-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A MAN who failed to abide by a court order to sign on daily has been refused bail.
Patrick Ballard, of Rossbracken, Shannon, appeared in court last week, accused of assaulting a garda in Shan- Wteyee
Ballard previously appeared on charges relating to the stealing of cig- arettes, alcohol and clothes in Ennis and Shannon.
Inspector Michael Gallagher told Shannon District Court that he was objecting to bail.
He said that in February, the accused had been ordered to sign on daily, but had failed to do so in recent weeks.
Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was a “troubled young- ster”. Sergeant Dermot O’Connor said he accepted that.
Ms Godfrey said her client was “*vul-
nerable”. The sergeant replied, “His mother and members of An Garda Siochana dealing with him are vulner- able as well”.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy said the accused was “committing crimes all over the place. Society has to be pro- tected”.
Ms Godfrey said the duty of the State to the accused has not been car- ried out. She said the probation serv- ices were to carry out a report and this concluded that prison was not a suit- able place for her client.
The judge replied, “The State is not in locus parentis to Mr Ballard. He has responsibilities.”
Ms Godfrey said her client has been ‘led astray” by people who are unde- sirable.
The judge noted the accused had breached his bail and remanded him in custody for a week. “I want to see a psychiatric report,’ he said.