A man detained in prison since his arrest for the burglary of an Athenry pub pleaded via video link from prison to Judge James Faughnan that he was a tradesman, and if the judge let him out he would work on building sites to pay back the loss to the pub.
“Judge Faughnan, I’m a tradesman and I’d like to work to pay back the pub in Athenry,” he told Ballinasloe District Court.
However, the judge was told by John Martin, solicitor (defending ) that the problem was that his client, defendant Paul Druce (no fixed abode ) had been granted bail at an earlier Court but he was unable to take up this bail because of lack of cash.
Druce had to be removed to the cells at Galway Courthouse for abusing Judge Fiona Lydon when he appeared before her in September.
After Druce was returned to the courtroom Judge Lydon told him he had a solicitor to represent him, but if he wished to address her he could. The defendant proceeded to tell her he was from Armagh and was a physical force republican who had numerous run-ins with the British army in his younger days. He informed Judge Lydon that he had no respect for her court. He has been in custody with consent to bail since then.
He appeared on charges, including burglary of an Athenry pub, theft of a charity box and public order offences, and his application for bail was strenuously opposed by Gardaí at the time as they were not satisfied he could provide a valid address.
The Judge heard he broke into The Fields public house in Athenry where he stole €200 and alcohol. He was identified on CCTV, was caught close to the scene and admitted the offences.
The Court heard Druce had 158 previous convictions and had been granted bail on 84 previous occasions. Bench warrants had been issued for him on 31 occasions.
Judge Lydon remanded him to Harristown prison to appear before Judge James Faughnan on Friday, September 19 where, she added, she would be interested to know how he fared if he behaved towards Judge Faughnan in the manner he had behaved towards her. He didn’t, and there was no repeat of his behaviour at this latest hearing, either.
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
