An Israeli man who claimed he didn’t know it was illegal to buy alcohol for under-18s was told to use his “common sense” in future and fined €500.
Judge Mary Fahy was unimpressed with the excuses offered by Jonathan Rosso when he was brought before Galway District Court last Monday and pleaded guilty to the charge of purchasing intoxicating liquor for persons under the age of 18 years at Dunnes Stores, Edward Square, on November 8, 2008.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that at 4.40pm the defendant went into Dunnes Stores and purchased “two nagans” of vodka, wine, and a litre bottle of Fat Frog for two 14-year-old girls.
Rosso (21 ) with an address at 99 Durling, Roscam, Galway, representing himself, told Judge Fahy that he had just come to Ireland three days before the incident and “didn’t know what the big deal was” and that he didn’t know he had broken the law.
“Oh come on! I thought they would have been at least 17 years old. Are you telling me that you didn’t know this was illegal,” Judge Fahy asked the defendant.
Rosso replied that he had been on a break from work and that the two girls approached him but that they looked 17. He added that he didn’t know what the age limit was in this country. When asked what the legal age limit for drinking alcohol was in his home country of Israel he said it was 18 years. However, he added that he had never seen anyone arrested for it before.
Judge Fahy then said that, “first of all you shouldn’t have done this, it’s very dangerous for young 14-year-olds to drink all that...”
“Just let me explain, they were begging me. I just thought I was doing them a favour,” the defendant said when he interrupted.
“Your own natural intelligence should tell you that when two children ask you it’s against the law. They would have bought it for themselves otherwise. It was a favour which could have ended up with them in hospital,” Judge Fahy sharply replied.
Inspector White further explained that the girls had entered the shop with the defendant, pointed out the drink, and paid him for it. He said that the alcohol was for about 10 girls in total.
After hearing the evidence, Judge Fahy said that the court did not accept what the defendant has said, adding that “common sense would tell a 21-year-old to run a mile”. She then fined him €500 with two months to pay
