A young father was given a total of nine months detention and was disqualified for two years for attempting to break into a car, being drunk in charge of a vehicle, and being in possession of a flick knife.
Thomas Lawrence (19 ) with an address at 26b Ballybrit Court, Ballybrit, was brought before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court last Monday where he pleaded guilty to possession of a flick knife, getting into a stationary car without authority, intent to drive while under the influence of an intoxicant, and criminal damage of a car, namely the driver’s door and ignition, at Riverdale, Oranmore, on June 30, 2008.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that at 2.10am gardai received a call regarding a number of youths who had been spotted in a car. The gardai approached the car and observed that it had been damaged. The defendant was later apprehended in the area and found in possession of a flick knife. An intoxiliser also gave a reading of 50mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. The inspector then explained that the criminal damage charge related to the attempt to take the vehicle and that the defendant has no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client, a Galway native who is married and the father of one child, comes from a dysfunctional background. She added that Lawrence knows that he should not be carrying a knife.
“This is very serious. He was out in Oranmore attempting to take a car, then he is found in charge of a car, and to compound it he is found with a flick knife,” replied Judge Fahy.
Lawrence was convicted and given a total of nine months detention and was disqualified from driving for two years. He was also ordered to pay €200 compensation for the criminal damage. Leave to appeal was granted.
