A married soldier who has been on four UN tours of duty avoided a public order conviction in the District Court this week (November 4 ) when the judge learned the effect an additional fine could have on his career.
William Shine (29 ), from The Cottage, Curraghboy was before Judge David Anderson after his arrest for involvement in “a drunken fight” in the early hours of June 24 on Griffith Street.
As Shine had pleaded guilty, Superintendent Aidan Glacken read his only previous conviction - one for drink driving - to the court.
Solicitor Padraig Quinn explained how his client, a married man with three children, had 10 years’ experience and a top conduct rating within the army.
However, army policy meant that an accumulation of fines in a criminal court would affect a soldier’s conduct rating and could thus have an influence on the re-signing of any subsequent contracts.
Mr Quinn pointed out how Shine’s previous fine for the drink driving conviction was for €250 and anything above €390 would see an automatic diminution in a conduct rating fron “very good” to “fair”.
Anything above €640 would see the conduct rating drop to “unsatisfactory” which would be enough to stop the offer of any further contracts.
Lieutenant Hurley confirmed this to the court.
“He has no excuse for his behaviour on the night in question,” said Mr Quinn.
“It was totally out of character for a man with this service”.
Judge Anderson accepted this and gave Shine the benefit of the Probation Act - the mildest censure available to the court without the stain of conviction - as it was his first public order offence.
However, before the parties left the court he asked Mr Quinn to point out to his client that this was a “one-time offer”.
