This article is from page 19 of the 2012-10-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
A MAN who stole waste metal from a hospital in Ennis committed a “despicable” offence, a court has heard.
Gerard McDonagh (30) with an address at 36 Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to the theft of old radiators from the grounds of Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice on May 3 (2012).
He also pleaded guilty to taking waste metal from the same location on May 7. The hospital was undergoing renovation works at the time.
The court previously heard that the father of four sold the radiators to a scrap metal dealer in Galway for € 200.
The matter came before Ennis District Court for sentencing on Wednesday.
Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client knew the items were waste “but should’ve known better.” She added;
“He had no business being in the curtilage of the hospital.”
Ms Godfrey asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence.
Judge Patrick Durcan said he had to balance the accused’s guilty plea against the “despicable nature of these offences.”
He said Mr McDonagh “knew exactly what he was about.”
“I do not accept he came across these materials innocently,” Judge Durcan added.
The court heard that Mr McDonagh had previously received a suspended sentence at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Durcan imposed sentences totaling four months to run consecutively to the sentence imposed at Galway Circuit Criminal Court. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.
After sentence was passed, Ms Godfrey told the court that she had been informed by her client that he had gone to Cahercalla to visit his sick aunt. A 56-YEAR-old man drank too much after being unlucky in love at the annual Matchmaking festival, a court has heard. Michael McDonagh, with an address at 14 Parnell Street, Summerhill, Ennis, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place during this year’s Matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr McDonagh was found “laid out” on Main Street, Lisdoonvarna. He was subsequently brought back to Ennistymon Garda Station. Solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that her client had “rather optimistically made his way to the Matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna.” She said Mr McDonagh’s attempts to meet a partner were unsuccessful, after which “he had a drink followed by another drink.” She added, “The air just hit him and when the air hit him, he slid to the ground.” She said Mr McDonagh is very embarrassed by his behaviour. Judge Patrick Durcan fined Mr McDonagh € 100 and gave him three months to pay. Mr McDonagh was also warned about his behaviour at next year’s festival.