A District Court judge is hopeful that Galway City Council will consider granting a casual trading licence to a Romanian rose seller so that he can “go straight” from now on and ply his trade lawfully on the city’s streets.
Judge Eamon O’Brien remarked that “the best gamekeeper is a former poacher”, when dealing with Vasile Muntean (24 ), 114 River Forest, Leixlip, Co Kildare, who pleaded guilty before the holiday sittings of Galway District Court this week to engaging in casual trading at Cross Street, Galway, on July 26 last without holding a casual trading licence.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court Muntean had 30 previous convictions for similar type offences.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that while his client had plastic roses for sale on this occasion he didn’t manage to actually sell any of them.
Judge O’Brien adjourned the charge before the court to September 15 next to give the accused time to apply to the city council for a casual trading licence.
“The best gamekeeper is a former poacher, and perhaps, they (the city council ) will give him a chance to ‘go straight’,” the judge remarked.
