A student who took a stack of newspapers as part of a Rag Week practical joke has been given the benefit of the Probation Act.
NUIG student Pearse Walsh (20 ) with an address given as Main Street, Swinford, Mayo, appeared at Galway District Court last Monday and pleaded guilty to handling stolen property, namely a stack of 40 newspapers at St Brendan’s Avenue on February 27, 2009.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that at 4.23am 40 local newspapers were delivered to a store and the defendant had been found in possession of them.
“Was this Rag Week?” asked baffled Judge Mary Fahy.
Walsh replied that it had been the last day of the troublesome student festivities. He explained that he had found the newspapers lying across from the Hole In The Wall pub and got caught straight away.
“I was going to bring them back. I thought it was funny,” he said.
“Do you think it’s funny,” asked Judge Fahy.
“No,” admitted Walsh.
Inspector McHugh told the court that the defendant had received an adult caution on February 5, 2009, for a public order offence and on February 13, 2009, he was given an on the spot fine for public order offence.
“You received a caution, a fine, and now you’re before the court because you got a lot of chances,” said Judge Fahy who gave Walsh the benefit of the Probation Act Section 1(1 ) before warning him to concentrate on his studies instead of carrying on.
