This article is from page 73 of the 2008-02-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 73 JPG
A COURT has heard that a young man who was carrying a _ baton dropped it as gardai arrived at the scene of a late night disturbance in /Syeyeb ay
William Roche of St Michael’s Villas, Ennis, and Colm Connick (31), of John Paul Park, Murlintown, Wexford, appeared in court arising out of an incident at 3am on October DePAUerE
Roche was charged with possession of a baton, while Connick was ac- cused of possession of a knife. Both pleaded guilty.
Garda William Delaney told En- nis District Court on Friday that an altercation took place at O’Connell Street, Ennis.
“An independent witness pointed out Mr Roche as having dropped a baton when gardai arrived,” he said.
“He denied this initially, but admit- ted it later on,” said the garda.
He said that Connick had a knife in his back pocket. Roche claimed to gardai that he had the baton for his own protection as he had been threat- ened by a group of people earlier. He denied that he had used it.
It was, he said, the type of baton you would get on holiday and had the
word *“Lanzarote’ written across It.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said that there were no complaints in relation to the use of a baton, while it was not being alleged that the knife was pro- duced.
The court was told that Connick, a tradesman, had travelled from Wex- ford to do work on his friend Roche’s house.
Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said there was “no inference” that Connick had produced the knife.
She said that Roche was carrying the baton “in case it was needed for protection.”
“It’s an offence to good taste rather
than anything else. There was no evi- dence that he wielded it as such,” she SrnOe
“If anyone was going to attack him, he felt he should have it. If anyone ar- rived at the scene and saw ared baton from Lanzarote, they would prob- ably die laughing. The fashion police might be on their back as well,” said Ms Godfrey.
“T don’t think any self-respecting criminal would be seen dead with that,’ she added.
Judge Joseph Mangan asked what was the baton for, if it was not for criminal activity.
Ms Godfrey replied, “The mind
boggles.”
Inspector Kennedy pointed out however, “A wallop from that would be no different to a wallop from any 0} Tos mm As Ole Oyen balcie a0 bee Ces 01 ime
“Just because Lanzarote was writ- ten on it doesn’t make light of his re- sponsibilities,’ said the inspector.
Judge Mangan imposed a _ four- month jail term on both men, sus- pended on condition that they keep the peace for six months.
He ordered both to enter a bond to behave for two years and fined them €1,250 each.
He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.