A judge welcomed an update in court this week (July 20 ) on an “unorthodox sentencing” of his, but feared this particular case “will be imprinted on my brain until I retire”.
Judge Seamus Hughes made these comments in the case of Martin Stokes (20 ), of Millbrook Drive, Monksland, who avoided jail on June 22, when he agreed to provide 100 bags of turf for St Vincent de Paul after being found guilty of possession of a knife and the theft of a mobile phone whilst under a suspended sentence.
Stokes’ solicitor, Mr Owen Carty, told Judge Hughes that he may remember this particular case, before the judge stopped him.
“Oh I remember it well. That’s the thing with unorthodox sentencing,” said the judge.
“One case in 500 you get known for. The other 499, no one hears anything about,” he pointed out.
On June 22, when ordering Stokes to do this community service, Judge Hughes told him he was “just one sod of turf away from prison”.
Mr Carty said the turf was “turned and stacked”, and that he had made contact with Vincent de Paul “and they said it would be most welcome”.
“It’s normally known as footing, not stacking,” corrected Judge Hughes, before turning to Stokes and asking him: “How are you enjoying it? Is it hard work? Are the midges attacking you ?”
“Not yet,” said Stokes.
“A couple of bags of good, dry, black turf will be very welcome dropped off at the doors of elderly persons around the town,” said the judge.
Mr Carty told the court his client had “a minimum of 100 bags saved so far”, and Judge Hughes asked him if he could organise a meeting with the local leader of Vincent de Paul to organise its storage and delivery in the coming months.
“A high crib, full to the sides. That’s what I want. By the end of September, the turf should be delivered around Athlone,” said the judge.
He remanded Stokes on continuing bail until September 28 to finalise matters.
