A DEFENDANT who was so nervous over being in Court for the first time in his life almost blew the opportunity of a chance a Judge was offering, by taking too much Dutch courage during the lunch break and disrupting proceedings repeatedly during the afternoon sitting as he waited for his case to be finalised.
Olivia Traynor solr (defending ) told Judge Valerie Corcoran that she was very annoyed with her client who should have more appreciation for the chance the Court was offering him.
Her client was so nervous about being in Court for the first time at 54 that a “Good Samaritan” had suggested he have a “drink to calm his nerves” when Court adjourned for lunch. She added that her client hadn’t had a drink in five and a half years before his lunch breakout.
Earlier in the sitting the Court heard how the defendant had been found in possession of a small quantity of a class A drug. He pleaded guilty to the offence.
Judge Corcoran agreed with the defence that the defendant deserved a chance as this was his first offence, and the charge could be struck out if he made a €500 donation to Galway Hospice.
However, when the afternoon sitting resumed the defendant sat in the body of the Court and loudly engaged in conversations in Polish with others present. He was repeatedly told to be quiet by Gardaí and his solicitor, but continued until he was ordered from the Court.
He made such a commotion doing so that the Judge ordered him brought back before her. She reprimanded him, telling him she was not impressed that he was disrespecting a court of law and had delayed proceedings by his behaviour.
Ms Traynor said she was equally annoyed by her client who was putting at risk the generous chance the Court had offered him.
Matters concluded with the handing over of the €500 donation to Galway Hospice, and the case was struck out.
