A man has been let off the hook for almost €8,000 damaged caused by people he brought to a house in Multyfarnham.
Keith Ryan, Gainstown, was the driver of a company van which carried two people to the house in Donore Drive, Multyfarnham where they smashed up a Suzuki car. He lost his job of ten years as a result.
The court previously heard from prosecuting Garda Beattie that he had been acting out of “immense fear” of one of the men.
Ryan, who is on social welfare, has paid €1,000 to the court but solicitor Patricia Cronin asked the judge to consider a community service order.
She said neither of the other two men were before the court and Ryan had not been the instigator. He had been intimidated and under pressure. The incident has also caused huge difficulties within his family and he has also lost his home as a result, she explained.
He is staying away from his passengers who are “known to gardaí”.
Judge David Anderson said he would “regretfully” leave the victim to get compensation in the civil courts if he wished when he finalised the case.
He made the maximum order of 240 hours community service in lieu of the maximum 12 month conviction for criminal damage.
Ryan was also disqualified from driving for two years.
