A Scottish merchant seaman has been given until today to hand over the €245 owed to a local B&B owner after he skipped town without paying.
Ian MacKenzie arrived in Galway on a tanker and stayed at a local B&B at 12 College Road. However, the owner was forced to contact gardai after MacKenzie claimed that he had left his wallet in his partner’s car but instead tried to evade payment of €245 by hopping on a bus to Dublin. However gardai caught up with him and he was arrested in Athlone.
The 43-year-old with an address at 520 Hillpark Drive, Glasgow G422pf, Scotland, has been in custody since the offence which took place on dates between November 17, 2008, and November 24, 2008.
In court last Wednesday, defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran told the court that her client works as a merchant seaman and had come to Galway on a tanker and stayed in the complainant’s B&B. She said that the defendant’s bank will not transfer the money without his passport which is back at his home. The defendant told the judge that there was no one who can get the passport sent over for him or who can lend him the money owed.
Judge Mary Fahy said that she had no interest in further remanding the defendant in custody but that the money had to be paid. “He hasn’t done enough. He booked into the B&B, skipped it and had no notion of paying,” she added.
“I can get the passport shipped over,” the defendant suddenly said with the threat of further custody hanging over him.
“It is quite clear that whatever funds he has he is holding onto them,” said Judge Fahy who then remanded the defendant in custody to Thursday, December 18, 2008, for the money to be paid.
