A 19 year-old member of the Defence Forces has been given the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to the women’s refuge in Mullingar after appearing in court to answer road traffic charges.
Alan McNamee of 11 Hawthorn Crescent, Mullingar was stopped by Garda Lindsay Quinlan at Tudenham on May 13 as he was driving a car. He admitted he had no licence and no insurance.
Mr Robert Marren told the court that Mr McNamee and a friend took the car out to Lough Ennell to test drive it because they thought it would be a quiet area.
He is just about to do a driving course to enable him to travel to Chad next year.
Saying that he knew what a conviction would mean to the young man, Judge Neilan said he recognised the “over-exuberance of youth who would try to buy a car before you can drive”.
He has been asked to pay €500 for the benefit of the women who may have to use the refuge over Christmas.
