A man who told the court he gambled and drank the proceeds from the sale of his car has been granted legal aid.
Michael Nevin (35 ) of 11 St Michaels Park told the court he had sold his car at Mullingar auctions and had given €1,000 of the €5,300 he received to his separated wife and mother of his five children.
He has only “a couple of hundred left” he said.
“I gambled some in the bookies and I drank more of it.” He said he had no assets and no bank account and he doesn’t sign on the dole.
He said it had occurred to him to use the proceeds to pay for his legal aid, even though the judge pointed out to him that he was aware five months ago that he was availing of legal aid.
However Mr John Quinn had “never asked me for any money”.
When the judge asked him if he was supposed to put his hand “back in the taxpayer’s pocket” because he had wasted money on horses, he told the court that he was very depressed at the moment.
Legal aid was granted.
