A student arrested for fighting in the street in the early hours of last Sunday (July 25 ), but who claimed in court he was the victim, had his sentence adjourned until October for a probation report after gardai revealed none of his alleged assailants were before the court.
Inspector Kieran Keyes for the prosecution told the court how Shane Noone (22 ), with an address at Kilmacoo Park, Athlone was arrested after an altercation on Church Street at 3.45am.
“My client was walking home last Saturday night and stopped at a takeaway,” said defending solicitor, Dara Hayden.
“Comments were passed, words were exchanged, and one thing led to another,” explained Mr Hayden.
“My client claimed he was set upon by four or five people and his frustration with the gardai was because he felt he was the victim.”
However, after being asked by Judge Hamill whether any of these assailants might be up on charges, Inspector Keyes confirmed none of them were.
As Noone was pleading guilty, the court was entitled to hear he had nine previous convictions. As each of these, and the amount he was fined each time, was read out, Judge William Hamill noted how regularly alcohol was involved.
“So, he has plenty of money for the drink and the fines, but none for the solicitor?” asked Judge Hamill, who had earlier assigned Noone free legal aid.
Mr Hayden explained how his client was just after finishing first year in electrical engineering at Athlone Institute of Technology, and on hearing this Judge Hamill adjourned sentencing until October 20 to allow the Welfare and Probation Service (WPS ) assess Noone’s suitability for a community service order.
