This article is from page 32 of the 2007-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
A KILRUSH man who was found by a judge to have told lies during his trial has been handed a suspended jail term after paying compensation and apologising.
Martin Walsh (49) of Island View, Kilrush, had denied causing almost €4,000 damage to two cars at 22 O’Gorman Street, Kilrush on No- vember 28 2005.
However, he was found guilty by a jury at Ennis Circuit Court last Friday week. The trial judge, Judge Sean O Donnabhain, said the ac- cused had “fabricated a tissue of lies” and he remanded him in custody for a week.
When he reappeared in court last week Walsh apologised for telling Wty
Judge O Donnabhain pointed out, “An offence of criminal damage of
this type wouldn’t merit a custodial sentence. Compensation would be number one to consider, with maybe some sort of binding to the peace or a suspended sentence.”
The judge said to defence barrister Lorcan Connolly: “You are entitled to fight the case. Your man went two steps further. He lied about his whereabouts that night and made up lies about the injured parties.
‘For those two aggravating factors,
I have remanded him in custody for the week,’ added the judge.
Mr Connolly said that his client had paid almost €4,000 compensa- tion to gardai.
‘He did not enjoy the week in pris- on. He now realises he was responsi- ble for the damage and his behaviour was unacceptable and he wishes to proffer his apology to the two wom- en,” said Mr Connolly.
The judge replied, “He didn’t spare
them when he was in the witness box.”
Martin Walsh subsequently ad- dressed the court and apologised for CURD OreMpOONRIOMbUROtcE
“I’m very sorry for misleading the court, telling lies,” he said.
The judge imposed an 18-month jail term, and suspended the balance of the sentence, on condition that he keep the peace for that length of anealee