A Ballyhaunis man who was in court in June, and given a chance to pay compensation to two injured parties for criminal damage he caused to their property, was sentenced to three months in prison this week in Claremorris District Court after failing to pay any monies.
Thomas McDonagh, 29 The Maples, Ballyhaunis, caused €1,100 damage to a car and €200 to the window of a takeaway. He told the court that he was not able to afford to pay the compensation as he did not have the money. He said that he gets €265 per week from social welfare and must support his wife and two young children on this.
The court was also told that nine days after his appearance at Claremorris District Court in June, he was arrested and later convicted in another case of criminal damage in Ballyhaunis to a window of a pub, for which he was currently paying €80 per month in compensation.
Judge Mary Devins convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison for the criminal damage to the car. She also suspended the last month on the condition that full compensation will have been paid by December 20 2010, and that he be of good behaviour and not come to Garda attention for 12 months. She further sentenced him to three months concurrent for the criminal damage to the takeaway, suspending the last month on the same conditions. Recognisance on the severity of the sentence was fixed.
