A 33-year-old man from Ballina was before Ballina District Court this week for theft, assault, and public order charges.
The first charge relates to May 2010, where €450 was given to Bernard Long, 8 St Muredach’s Terrace, Ballina, for a hi-spec bike. Gardaí were contacted when Long did not hand over any bike after payment was received. No compensation has been paid in this matter.
Ex-girlfriend of Long, Fiona Killeen, also claimed that on July 13 2010 she was assaulted by Long outside Dunne’s Stores. In her statement to gardaí she said she was hit by him on the right side of her face, however in court she said that Long hit her under the chin with an empty vodka bottle. Long denied this charge. There were no other witnesses in court in relation to the incident and Judge Mary Devins dismissed the assault charge.
The defendant was also in court for being intoxicated in a public place after he was discovered lying on a footpath on Corcoran Terrace, Ballina, on July 28 2010 at 6.40pm.
Long also stole a 1.5 litre of vodka and Gillette blades from Dunne’s Stores on December 6 2010. The property worth €69 was recovered.
“Living a chaotic lifestyle” was how Long’s solicitor John Gordon described the defendant’s lifestyle. The court heard that the defendant has attended Hope House and has done an anger management course.
Judge Devins adjourned sentencing to November 22 and gave the State liberty to re-enter with 24 hours notice. Long is to also sign on at Ballina Garda Station three times a week. Full compensation of €450 is to also be paid on, or before, the November court date. The section four public order charge was taken into consideration.
