“He’s only playing games with the Court,” was the response from a Judge at Galway District Court when a young father appeared before him pleading that he didn’t have the money to pay fines and asking to do community service instead.
Judge John King was told by Cathy McDarby solr that her client, Patrick Keenan, 71, Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane, Galway, was a father of three young children and was not in a position to pay fines totalling €430 previously imposed by the Court.
Garda Sgt Christy Brown told the Judge that Keenan had already carried out community service on a separate issue earlier in the year, so he had been assessed as suitable. The Judge ordered he do a total of 90 hours in lieu of the fines.
Keenan also faced traffic charges, driving unaccompanied while not having a full driving licence and driving with no L plate.
The Court was told that he had not yet done a social driving course ordered for other offences. Ms McDarby said her client was on a waiting list to sit his driving test and he was taking lessons.
Judge King then said he thought the defendant was only playing games with the Court.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to a public order offence. He was found at 11.30am outside his house in an intoxicated condition. Keenan had 34 precious convictions, three for public order offences.
Ms McDarby pleaded that her client was depressed on the day as he had just received news of his daughter’s ill health. Adjourning matters, Judge King told Keenan to get €200 into Court, which he did. He added that he didn’t sanction legal aid in public order cases.
