There was some hilarity at Galway District Court when a defendant appearing via video-link from prison told the Judge “Sure, five days more won’t kill me now”.
Judge Fiona Lydon told Donal Ryan (No Fixed Abode ) that he was charged with failure to pay fines and asked him if he had any assets. He replied “myself” to the query, much to her amusement.
She explained that he could either do Community Service or five days in prison in lieu of the fines, to which he replied he was in prison anyway and five days more wouldn’t hurt.
Gary McDonald BL (defending ) asked his client on screen if he could come up with €800 to pay the outstanding fines. Ryan replied that he was not only homeless but in prison, so he had no money whatsoever and no way of obtaining it. The defendant is in custody relating to other matters.
The Judge asked him to clarify whether he had any interest in doing Community Service. After some deliberation he indicated that this wouldn’t suit him.
“They’re trying to detox me in here,” he explained and thought a few more days might assist in the process. After assuring herself that Ryan understood what was being proposed, the Judge imposed a sentence of five days in prison in lieu of €800 in fines.
“You’re a very nice Judge, thank you,” the defendant told Judge Lydon as he cheerily signed out. The Judge commented that she was “glad someone was in good form” that day.
