This article is from page 8 of the 2008-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
“A MOMENT of absolute stupidity” was how a Solicitor referred to an in- cident in which her client punched a garda in the face.
The remark was made in court in the case of Flan Ginnane (26), of Quay Road, Kildysart, who was
charged with assaulting Garda Alan Kelly, at Abbey Street, Ennis, in the early hours of March 3 last.
Defending solicitor Siobhan Mc- Mahon said her client was pleading cuilty.
Garda Kelly told Ennis District Court last Friday that he was dealing with Ginnane’s friends and he got in-
volved.
‘‘He punched me in the face. He ran off. I caught up with him,” said the eee
He said the accused apologised that night and again the following day.
Ms McMahon said that when her chent saw gardai approaching, he tried to intervene to help one of his
friends who was younger than him.
“Tt was a moment of absolute stu- pidity that led to this situation. He is petrified by the whole situation,” said the solicitor.
She said her client is a “genuinely decent person” who was highly thought of in his local community, where he had a deep involvement in
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“Tt is totally out of character,” she said.
Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two-month jail term. But he will sub- stitute this with 240 hours commu- nity service if the accused is found suitable. He adjourned the case until next month.