Latest news with #ProbationAct
Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Sunday World
Learner driver tried to ‘bypass' theory test by letting someone else sit it
Mother-of-two Maria Stan had since sat the test and got a full licence A learner driver fraudulently got a licence after trying to 'bypass' the theory test by letting someone else sit it 'on her behalf'. Mother-of-two Maria Stan (25) was issued with a learner's permit after deceiving authorities with a claim that she had passed the test herself. Judge Susan Fay adjourned the case, saying she would leave her without a criminal record if she made a €500 charity donation. There may have been some sort of breakdown in communication Stan, of Brackenwood Drive, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to deception by inducing a worker at the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) to issue a learner's permit in the belief she had successfully completed the driver's theory test. A garda sergeant told Dublin District Court that Stan went to the NDLS office at Omni Shopping Centre, Santry, on November 13, 2019, and submitted an application for a licence, including a declaration that she had completed the theory test. However, someone else had sat it 'on her behalf'. She returned the permit when this was discovered. Stan had no previous convictions. Maria Stan Stan was 'given an opportunity to bypass the theory test', she had 'limited English and there may have been some sort of breakdown in communication', defence solicitor Oscar Banahan said. She understood now that she put herself in a 'precarious situation', he added. Stan had since sat the test and got a full licence. Judge Fay remanded the accused on continuing bail to October 9, saying she will apply the Probation Act if the donation is made.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Learner driver (47) hired fraudster to sit theory test for him
Adrian Nicolae Doros, of Shandon Road, Phibsboro, Dublin, pleaded guilty to deception. A learner driver was 'highly reckless' when he hired a fraudster to sit the theory test for him so he could get a licence. Adrian Nicolae Doros (47) was 'keen to get on the road' when he applied for and got a learner's permit after paying a man to pose as him for the exam. Adjourning the case, Judge Susan Fay said it was a serious offence but she would apply the Probation Act, sparing him a criminal record if he made a €500 charity donation. Doros, of Shandon Road, Phibsboro, Dublin, pleaded guilty to deception. Dublin District Court heard he went to the National Driver Licence Service office at Omni Shopping Centre, Santry, on January 25, 2020 and submitted an application for a learner's permit. Doros had someone else sit his theory test for him. The permit was issued but he later returned it when it was discovered what he had done, a garda sergeant said. He succumbed to this carrot that was dangled in front of him Doros had been keen to get a provisional driver's licence, and a friend recommended there was 'a gentleman going around sitting the theory test for people,' his solicitor Andrew Broderick said. He 'succumbed to this carrot that was dangled in front of him,' he said. 'Temptation got the better of him.' Doros was 'highly reckless' as to it being a criminal act and 'completely understands now that it was,' Mr Broderick said. The accused had been in Ireland for 20 years and had no prior convictions. He was on illness benefit and was currently unable to work. Adrian Nicolae Doros pleaded guilty to deception. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 19th
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork man who threatened to kill Tidy Towns volunteer ordered to attend anger management
A Cork man who threatened to kill a Tidy Towns volunteer has been ordered to attend anger management classes by a district court judge. Vincent Harrington, aged 52, of Desert View, Clonakilty, appeared for penalty before Judge Joanne Carroll at Clonakilty District Court. At a previous hearing, Harrington was convicted of threatening to kill a Tidy Towns volunteer who parked their van in a lay-by near the entrance to Harrington's driveway. The conviction related to an incident that occurred at Convent Hill, Clonakilty on the afternoon of May 27, 2024. Mr Harrington had threatened the Tidy Towns volunteer he would hold his head under water and 'keep it there until the last breath'. Mr Harrington had claimed the injured party's van was parked in a dangerous position in the lay-by which adjoined a busy main road. He said there was not enough room to safely pass it and it was parked in a position that restricted access to his property. When Garda Brian Noonan attended the scene, he was able to pass the parked van in the lay-by in the garda SUV and also reverse back past it as well. He told the court in his opinion the van was not parked in a dangerous position, did not block access to Mr Harrington's driveway and did not pose a danger for vehicles turning onto the adjoining main road. Judge Carroll said Harrington has been 'incensed by what he perceived was a wrong', but that was not the case. The judge said Harrington had wanted to 'threaten and bully people' into not parking in the lay-by, and wanted to 'take the law into his own hands.' The judge told Harrington: 'You are very volatile and explosive over this issue.' She ordered Harrington to attend at least 'three or four' anger management sessions, to donate €200 to the poor box and to carry out 20 hours of voluntary work, which she advised him not to do with the Tidy Towns. The judge said if Harrington obeyed the courts instructions, then the Probation Act would be applied and the case was adjourned to November 4, 2025. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Derek Blighe given benefit of Probation Act after making payment to Irish Red Cross
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe, who was convicted of a public order offence last year after he refused to make a donation to the Irish Refugee Council has now been given the benefit of the Probation of the Offenders Act after the money was allocated to another charity. Mr Blighe, of Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was last year given the opportunity at Fermoy District Court to avail of the act by making a donation to the Irish Refugee Council. A conviction followed when he failed to donate the money. At a sitting of Cork Circuit Appeals Court in March of this year, his then barrister Alan O'Dwyer said that it was 'purely a religious matter'. He said that his client's difficulty was with the position taken by the Irish Refugee Council on the repeal of the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution in relation to abortion. READ MORE Judge Helen Boyle told Mr Blighe that instead of paying €400 to the Irish Refugee Council, Blighe could pay €500 to Nasc . Nasc is an advocacy service which links migrants and refugees to their rights. Mr Blighe indicated his willingness to make the contribution. However, Cork Circuit Appeals Court today heard that the money had not been paid to Nasc. When the case was first mentioned this morning, Mr Blighe told Judge Boyle that his faith did not permit him to donate the money to Nasc arising out of their stance on the unborn child. When the case came back before Judge Boyle this afternoon, she asked Mr Blighe if he had the money in court. The 44-year-old said that he did, and she directed that he hand over €500 to the sergeant. Judge Boyle then directed that the funds be allocated to the Irish Red Cross . Mr Blighe represented himself in court. [ Ireland First election candidate Derek Blighe found guilty of threatening behaviour Opens in new window ] At a previous court sitting, Insp Jason Wallace said it was alleged that Blighe had engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident at Abbeyville House, Fermoy, on December 22nd, 2023. Witness Christopher Gomez said he was duty manager at Abbeyville when it was being prepared as accommodation for migrants and a protest by people opposing its use for this purpose had been taking place for several months outside. Mr Gomez said he had ordered an oil delivery from a local company. When the delivery truck arrived at about 11am, he said Blighe approached the driver and spoke to him. He said Blighe then told him 'the driver's not going to give you oil' and the truck left. Mr Gomez contacted the oil company and a second truck was dispatched. He opened the gates when it arrived and the driver began making the delivery. Blighe then began recording Mr Gomez with his phone and the court was shown footage he uploaded to Facebook in which he castigated Mr Gomez. In the video, Blighe can be heard telling Mr Gomez: 'You are a guest in this country. Shame on you. You should be ashamed. You will go down in the history books, you will go down in the sewers of Irish history. Go back to where you came from.' Mr Gomez said Blighe live-streamed the incident which 'really traumatised me'. He later downloaded the footage and provided it to gardaí when making a complaint. He said he had been an Irish citizen for 20 years and had 'never experienced anything like this before'. Garda Dane Murphy said he visited the protest at Abbeyville later that day and the atmosphere was 'borderline volatile'. He said Blighe made a cautioned statement regarding the incident on January 9th last, but replied 'no comment' to every question he was asked. Judge Roberts said he found the 'black and white' attitude towards immigration 'hard to understand' especially from an Irish perspective where generations of Irish people had emigrated and 'the vast majority of them illegally'.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Anti-immigration campaigner Derek Blighe given Probation Act after €500 payment to Irish Red Cross
Derek Blighe (44) of Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork had objected to making a donation, as part of the Probation Act process, to specific charities on religious grounds after citing his faith and issues surrounding abortion. He was afforded the opportunity at Fermoy District Court last year to avail of the Probation Act by making a donation to the Irish Refugee Council. A conviction followed when he failed to donate the money. At a sitting of Cork Circuit Appeals Court last March, defence counsel Alan O'Dwyer BL explained that it was 'purely a religious matter.' He said that his client's difficulty was with the position taken by the Irish Refugee Council on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Irish constitution in relation to abortion. Judge Helen Boyle told Mr Blighe that instead of paying €400 to the Irish Refugee Council he could instead pay €500 to Nasc. Nasc is an advocacy service which links migrants and refugees to their rights. Mr Blighe indicated his willingness at the time to make the contribution. However, Cork Circuit Appeals Court heard that the money had not been paid to Nasc. When the case was first mentioned, Mr Blighe told Judge Boyle that his faith did not permit him to donate the money to Nasc arising out of their stance on the unborn child. When the case came back before Judge Boyle, she asked Mr Blighe if he had the stipulated amount in court. The 44 year old said that he did and she directed that he hand over €500 to Gardaí. Judge Boyle then directed that the funds be allocated to the Irish Red Cross. Mr Blighe represented himself in court. At a previous court sitting, Inspector Jason Wallace said it was alleged that Mr Blighe had engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident at Abbeyville House, Fermoy, on December 22, 2023. Witness Christopher Gomez said he was duty manager at Abbeyville when it was being prepared as accommodation for migrants and a protest by people opposing its use for this purpose had been taking place for several months outside. Mr Gomez said he had ordered an oil delivery from a local company. When the delivery truck arrived at about 11am, he said Blighe approached the driver and spoke to him. He said Blighe then told him 'the driver's not going to give you oil' and the truck left. Mr Gomez contacted the oil company and a second truck was dispatched. He opened the gates when it arrived and the driver began making the delivery. Mr Blighe then began recording Mr Gomez with his phone and the court was shown footage he uploaded to Facebook in which he castigated Mr Gomez. In the video, Blighe can be heard telling Mr Gomez: 'You are a guest in this country. Shame on you. You should be ashamed. You will go down in the history books, you will go down in the sewers of Irish history. Go back to where you came from.' Mr Gomez said Mr Blighe live-streamed the incident which 'really traumatised me'. He later downloaded the footage and provided it to Gardaí when making a complaint. He said he had been an Irish citizen for 20 years and had 'never experienced anything like this before'. Garda Dane Murphy said he visited the protest at Abbeyville later that day and the atmosphere was 'borderline volatile'. He said Mr Blighe made a statement regarding the incident on January 9 but replied 'no comment' to every question he was asked. Judge Roberts said he found the 'black and white' attitude towards immigration 'hard to understand'. He noted that, from an Irish perspective, generations of Irish people had emigrated and 'the vast majority of them illegally'.
