Latest news with #MonaghanDistrictCourt
Sunday World
21-05-2025
- Sunday World
Learner crashed company car he took without permission after waiting three hours for lift
Twenty-three-year-old Tomas Urbitis careered into the side of his victim after failing to spot its indicator light was on A ventilation services worker crashed a company car he unlawfully got behind the wheel of while on a provisional driver's licence after waiting three hours for a lift that failed to show, a court has heard. Twenty-three-year-old Tomas Urbitis careered into the side of his victim after failing to spot its indicator light was on and as its driver was attempting to navigate a left hand turn at Drummond Otra, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan on June 8, 2024. Sgt Lisa McEntee, for the State, said Urbitis had 'no permission' from the vehicle's owner and company he had been working for, Airtech Ventilation Ltd, when the collision took place. Tomas Urbitis crashed a company car after he took it without permission having waited unsuccessfully for a lift for three hours. Urbitis, of Inver Park, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, was charged with careless driving, the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, no insurance and failing to produce the latter as a direct consequence of the collision. Judge Raymond Finnegan was also informed of how Urbitis, aside from opting to take the company vehicle at The Meadows, Dundalk, Co Louth, should not have been at the wheel owing to the fact he was a provisional licence holder and was driving while unaccompanied. Photographs from the road traffic collision were also handed in with Sgt McEntee confirming how follow up garda inquiries had deemed Urbitis to be 'at fault' both in terms of its cause and resulting damage that followed. Urbitis, who pleaded guilty at a sitting of Monaghan District Court, had not committed a road traffic offence prior to the incident, the court heard, with all eight of his previous convictions coming by way of theft and public order related offences. Defence solicitor Niall Fox said while there was no getting away from his client's culpability, his decision to take the 152 registered VW Golf had emanated from a lift that had failed to materialise after three hours of waiting. 'The car in front decided to turn left and he was coming behind it in a rush,' he said. 'It was a company car, he took the lend of it though he accepts he didn't have permission to take it. "He had waited for three hours for a lift and when his lift didn't turn up, he saw the car was parked and took (it). He didn't think there would be an issue as he would be back the next day and (would have been) bringing the car back to work.' Tomas Urbitis was on a provisional driver's licence at the time of the crash. Mr Fox said Urbitis was adamant in his belief of not seeing sight of an indicator from the car in front which ultimately precipitated the crash, but said the accused was not attempting to deviate from his guilty plea. 'He says he didn't see the indicator and went into the side of it and fully accepts he was responsible for the accident,' said Mr Fox. 'He didn't have a licence at the time, but he does have a licence now and he is hoping to learn to drive, but he accepts he didn't have insurance and he shouldn't have taken the car.' Judge Finnegan consequently fined Urbitis €350 each for no insurance, careless driving and the unauthorised taking while 'taking into consideration' the other remaining charges. In doing so, Judge Finnegan warned him: 'Hopefully it is a lesson learned Tomas.'
Sunday World
05-05-2025
- Sunday World
Tourist vows to never drive in Ireland again after head-on crash left pair seriously injured
Two people in the other car were brought to hospital for treatment after the crash A French tourist has vowed to never get behind the wheel of a car in Ireland again after his lack of motoring experience navigating the country's left-handed driving laws left a man and woman in hospital with serious injuries following a head-on crash in county Monaghan last year. Thomas Peixoto (28) of Impasse Des Platanes, France escaped incurring a driving ban after he pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to his two victims at a sitting of Monaghan District Court . Peixoto had previously appeared five weeks earlier where he entered both pleas in connection to a road traffic collision at Carragartha, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan on April 20, 2024. Thomas Peixoto (28) left a man and a woman in a serious condition in hospital following a head on collision in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in April last year. Peixoto, the court was told, had been visiting the area while on holidays and was at the wheel of a 241-registered rental car when he crossed into the path of his two victims on the outskirts of the county Monaghan town. The court had been told how Peixoto had been travelling from the Cullaville area to Castleblayney and was 'attempting to cross a major road' when his car 'collided head on' with the occupants of a 151-registered vehicle. Peixoto was subsequently being arrested and brought to a local garda station where he was fingerprinted and photographed. The man and woman who had been travelling in the opposite direction were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for treatment. In the wake of a garda investigation that followed, Peixoto was initially charged with dangerous driving, a count which was consequently withdrawn by the State and replaced by two careless driving charges. Thomas Peixoto outside Monaghan Courthouse. Peixoto's following guilty pleas resulted in the case being adjourned to allow for victim impact statements to be taken from his two victims, the contents of which were handed into presiding Judge Raymond Finnegan. As they were handed in, Sgt McEntee told the court of their 'detailed' nature while at the same time insisting the accuse had been 'very cooperative' throughout. In light of her client's previously unblemished record, Sarah Brennan BL backed those assertions up by stressing how Peixoto have a full and candid account during a consequent interview with gardaí. She said Peixoto had hired a car with his family and had been intent on taking responsibility for driving when the crash occurred just five minutes from their Airbnb accommodation in Castleblayney. Thomas Peixoto was fined a total of €1,500 following the incident in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in April 2024. 'What he told gardaí was he had to make a right hand turn across the road,' she said. 'He was concentrating on his speed and the fact he had to stay on the left and he didn't see the vehicle coming.' Ms Brennan said it was her firm belief the incident was purely borne out of Peixoto's inexperience in driving on the left hand side of the road, something he pledged to desist from going forwards. 'It seems to have been a genuine error as this is a man who has never driven on the left before and what he tells gardaí is that he never wants to do it again,' she said. Judge Finnegan said in light of the way Peixoto had met the case, he would stop short of disqualifying him, but handed down fines of €750 for each of the charges.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Judge brands woman with over 130 convictions a ‘borderline kleptomaniac' after committing 108th theft days after release from prison
Liam Cosgrove Today at 05:40 A judge has branded a woman with over 130 convictions a 'borderline Kleptomaniac' after she walked into a supermarket to commit her 108th theft offence just days after securing temporary release from prison. Ruth Oburu (35) Lodge View, Cootehill, Cavan was sent back to prison by Judge Raymond Finnegan at a sitting of Monaghan District Court to begin a five month sentence for a shoplifting offence at Foy's SuperValu, Market Street, Cootehill, Cavan on April 27.
Agriland
29-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Co-op to pay €15,000 in legal costs following river ‘pollution' incident
Tirlán has been instructed to pay €15,177 in legal costs and expenses after entering a 'plea of guilty' in relation to a water pollution incident in Co. Monaghan. The Kilkenny headquartered co-op has also been ordered to pay €5,000 to a local charity. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) today (Tuesday, April 29) welcomed a court ruling on the water pollution incident – which took place on November 24, 2023 – and which impacted on the Knappagh River system, in Co. Monaghan which flows into the River Erne. The case was heard at Monaghan District Court at March 26, 2025, and concluded on April 23, 2025. The court heard from IFI that laboratory analysis of test samples showed that 'grossly polluting' material had been discharged into a wild brown trout spawning river. According to IFI 'large volumes of white-coloured effluent from Tirlán's dairy processing facility in Lough Egish Business Park, Co Monaghan' were detected entering a tributary of the Knappagh River system. Samples taken by IFI officers following the incident indicated high levels of organic material in the effluent that was 'toxic to fish, insects, and other aquatic life'. The court was told that since the pollution incident occurred Tirlán has put in place a range of 'preventative measures, including regular daily monitoring and visual checks of the facility and adjacent watercourse, to guard against a future reoccurrence'. The Probation Act was applied in the case on the basis that Tirlán agreed to make a voluntary contribution of €5,000 to a local charity. In a statement issued to Agriland Tirlán said 'it is highly conscious of protecting the environs in which it operates and has protocols in place across all our facilities'. 'Tirlán was disappointed that on this occasion an accidental discharge owing to a technical pump failure occurred at the Lough Egish facility. 'As acknowledged by the District Court and Inland Fisheries, Tirlán acted swiftly to deal with the matter, took all corrective actions and put in place a range of preventative measures, including regular daily monitoring, physical visual checks of the facility and adjacent watercourse to guard against incidents of this nature,' the co-op added. Pollution According to Milton Matthews, IFI's north western river basin district director, the 'serious pollution event' had a significant impact on the brown trout spawning and nursery habitat within the Knappagh River catchment. 'This catchment is classified under the Water Framework Directive as being at risk. 'Tirlán has agreed to make a charitable contribution of €5,000 to the Bawn Community Group CLG to support the continued development and promotion of angling in the Bawn/Latton areas in Co Monaghan. 'This is a welcome support to this long-established local voluntary group,' Matthews said. IFI has urged the public to report issues of concern relating to freshwater fish and their habitats to its confidential 24/7 number 0818 34 74 24.
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Sunday World
Man accused of wielding knife in broad daylight claims it was for self-protection
David Covaciu (28) insisted his actions were fuelled by ongoing 'unease' in his estate David Covaciu on his way into Monaghan Courthouse on Monday morning. Photo Rory Geary A man in his 20s accused of brandishing a knife in broad daylight in a county Monaghan town on Sunday evening has insisted his actions were fuelled by ongoing 'unease' in the locality and for self-protection purposes. David Covaciu (28) of Ardee Road, Magheross, Carrickmacross, Monaghan, was remanded in custody by Judge Raymond Finnegan after appearing at a sitting of Monaghan District Court on Monday arising from an incident along Main Street, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan at around 7.30pm the previous evening. The accused, who had the benefit of a Romanian interpreter, sat in the custody suite of the court as details surrounding the alleged episode and three ensuing charges were heard. They included two charges of knife possession under section 9 (1) and (4) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 alongside a section 6 public order charge. Inspector Damien Martin addressed the court at the outset of proceedings to reveal the State were objecting to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997. Garda Barry Sheehy underlined those objections on the basis of the seriousness of the charges adding that the section 9 (4) charge carried the possibility of up to five years in prison on indictment David Covaciu on his way into Monaghan Courthouse on Monday morning. Photo Rory Geary Judge Finnegan was similarly informed of how those objections also extended to alleged evidence gardai had which included eye witness accounts and video footage that showed him allegedly acting in an 'aggressive and threatening' manner. Garda Sheehy added how it will be contended the unemployed former farm worker was caught 'red-handed' in broad daylight in an episode that had caused 'considerable distress' locally. Defence solicitor Roísín Courtney detailed how her client had instructed her his decision to carry a flick-knife had stemmed from fears over his own personal safety. 'I am not in any way justifying carrying a knife. I asked him the blank question as to why he was carrying a knife and he said was for his own protection as there is some unease in the local estate where he lives,' she told the court. Ms Courtney added how her client had ties to the area and had been living locally for much of the past decade. Garda Sheehy replied, saying gardaí were aware of some 'ongoing issues' over the past two to three weeks in the greater Carrickmacross area that had led to a 'bit of unrest'. Read more Armed man arrested after he's spotted wielding knife at traffic in broad daylight He also stated gardaí had recovered the weapon they believed had been used during the incident, describing it as being silver in colour and four inches in length. Garda Sheehy also insisted, when asked by Judge Finnegan, that those caught up in the incident were 'not directly' linked to the aforementioned tension which had emerged locally in recent times. In summing up the State's case, Inspector Martin said the incident and its immediate aftermath had generated 'considerable disquiet' in the local community. 'It was very threatening behaviour in Main Street on a Sunday evening,' he said. 'There are fears as we don't know what his motivations were and we don't why he was carrying a knife and we have no guarantees this behaviour won't escalate.' In response, Ms Courtney said Covaciu was 'very drunk' and could not recall his involvement in what had transpired less than 24 hours earlier. Having been presented with video footage of the incident by gardaí during his detention, Ms Courtney said her client had shown 'incredible remorse' and was 'shocked' by his behaviour. To that end, she insisted 'stringent conditions' would suffice in addressing the concerns both the State and the court may harbour as to whether Covaciu would answer his bail. Judge Finnegan, however, disagreed and remanded Covaciu in custody to appear back at a sitting of Cavan District Court via video link on Thursday.
