Legal News

Not having an NCT landed a man with €100 as a fine in Tallaght Court.  Anthony Woods told Judge John Lindsay that he wanted his case dealt with, but was denying the offence.  Judge Lindsay told him “Then I will have to put it back for Hearing”. 

A Tallaght woman, who had pleaded guilty to not sending her daughters to a local National School, had her case struck out in Tallaght Court.  Last June, the woman had pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with School Attendance Notices dated June 12, 2012, concerning two of her daughters’ attendance at a National School in Tallaght.  This week, the case was before Judge Michael Coghlan, for a Progress Report.  A Solicitor for the Child and Family Agency told the Judge that the case could be struck out.  The woman’s Solicitor said he had no objection to the Application.  Judge Coghlan struck the case out.

A Tallaght man accused of dangerous driving has been before Tallaght Court.  Baykan Filibe, aged 37, with an address at Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, is accused of dangerous driving at Cooks Town Road in Tallaght on November 9, 2013.  Filibe’s Solicitor told Judge Bridget Riley that the alleged incident involved a road traffic accident.  Filibe’s Solicitor made an Application for free legal aid, producing one of Filibe’s payslips.  The Judge adjourned the case for three weeks for mention.

A young man accused of obstruction was before Tallaght Court this week.  Anthony Byrne, aged 24, with an address at Bawnlea Avenue, Tallaght, is charged with obstructing Garda Nevan Hartley at Sundale Close in Tallaght on July 19, 2014.  Byrne was before Judge Bridget Reilly.  His solicitor asked Judge Reilly for a short adjournment so that he could go through the case with his client.  Judge Reilly remanded Byrne on continuing bail for three weeks for mention.

A father who has been fighting to keep his family home has said he is “feeling stronger” following a meeting with the Irish Mortgage Holders organisation.  Danny O’Connor has been caring for his three children since the sudden death of his wife Ashleigh in 2008 and is now faced with homelessness after his mortgage fell into arrears.  Since his wife’s passing, Mr O’Connor has been unsuccessfully fighting his wife’s life insurance policy – a situation he reported to the Ombudsman.  His appeal went national after his story was first published in the Echo.  With over 7000 supporting the “Save the O’Connor family home” campaign on line and over €1,400 raised in donations to help the family.  The meeting with the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation was organised by local MEP Lynn Boylan, who also accompanied Mr O’Connor at the meeting on Thursday 14 August 2014.  Following the meeting, Mr O’Connor told his supporters “I feel a lot better now I know what I am dealing with.  I know this this won’t happen overnight but I am feeling stronger.  I find somehow I have the motivation to meet the insurance and to fight my case as they know now I have people on my side.  The kids can see their dad looking so happy again.”  For more information on the campaign to save the O’Connor family home, visit www.facebook.com/savetheoconnorfamilyhome.

Courts Service proposals for the reorganisation of Dublin District Courts, have attracted “considerable interest” according to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.  The Courts Service are proposing to close Tallaght, Balbriggan, Swords and Dun Laoghaire Courts, leaving the capital with only two Court venues – the Criminal  Courts of Justice in Dublin 8 and Blanchardstown Court House.  The “restructuring” of the Court’s Service is being attributed to “critical” staffing levels, with a 15% reduction in numbers since 2009.  Tallaght based criminal lawyer Michael Hennessey says the “ill thought out” proposals will create “huge problems for local people and will be damaging for Tallaght Village”.  Minister Fitzgerald said it is important that “all rationalisation decisions receive full and detailed consideration” including “consideration of the implications for the wider Justice sector and for the citizens who avail of the Courts”.  She continued “I welcome the consultative approach which is being adopted by the Courts Service in dealing with these proposals”.  The Courts Service accept the closure of Court Services in Dublin will “inevitably cause inconvenience” but the proposals “will result in improved services”.  The Courts Service will publish its proposals for the reorganisation of the Dublin District Courts in September.  There is an expected start date of January 2015 for the new arrangements, allowing for a six month leading period for planning and implementation.

On the 5 December 2012, one of our clients, driver “A”, a Russian speaking Latvian with an address in Dublin 15, was on the M50 between the Finglas and Blanchardstown exits.  A Ford Transit van, driven by driver “C”, began behaving very erratically and pushed driver “B”, without contacting his vehicle, out of the way.  He then suddenly pulled in front of our client, driver “A”, causing a collision.  Driver “C” gave his details and a mobile number.  Driver “B” gave a statement to the Garda and put the blame squarely on driver “C”.  Our client, driver “A”, needed to get his car back on the road and said the pre-accident value was €5,000.00 but was a write off.  Our client suffered an injury to his right shoulder from the seatbelt.  After the accident he went home and began feeling nauseous.  He had pain in his back, neck and said that part of the issue was that the airbag went off in his car.  He had had no previous claims.  The Circuit Court found 100% in our client’s favour and he was awarded €15,000.00 plus costs.

An IT Engineer who cultivated nearly €2,000 worth of Cannabis got a Strike Out in Tallaght Court after he paid €2,500 to the National Children’s Hospital.  Judge John Coughlan had heard that Mark Malone started cultivating the drug because he had been suffering from stress.  He said Malone did not want to buy drugs on the street.  Malone, aged 31, with an address at Parkwood Avenue, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to simple possession of Cannabis and cultivation of Cannabis plants at the above address on December 7 2013.  The Court had heard that the plants had been worth €1,800.  The Court heard that Malone had no previous convictions.  Malone was before the Court for payment of €2,500 to charity.  His solicitor said the money was in Court.  Judge Coughlan ordered that the donation be paid to the National Children’s Hospital and struck out the case.

A teenager accused of Public Order offences has appeared before Tallaght Court.  The 17 year old was accompanied to Court by a Social Worker.  The teenager, with an address at Rathfarnham, is charged with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.  Failing to comply with a Garda’s Directions and giving a false name and address to a Garda at a location in Tallaght on June 25 2014.  The teenager told Judge Riley that he is currently on social welfare.  Judge Riley assigned a local solicitor on legal aid.  Judge Riley remanded the case to a date in September for mention.

Buying a house can be very exciting particularly when it is your first house but you have to be careful not to be carried away. Making a successful purchase involves quite a lot of planning. If you are buying your first house just be very careful, don’t go overboard and don’t be too romantic. Before embarking on the project we would ask you to consider the following: