Laois grandmother told to make childcare arrangements ahead of sentencing
Image for illustration purposes
A DISTRICT court judge was none too pleased when a barrister asked him to deal with his client earlier than she was listed to be dealt with ahead of others at last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
At a normal day’s sitting of the court, those in custody are normally dealt with by video link first, followed by applications, then on to charges, summons, enforcement orders, in camera (domestic cases), contested hearings, bail applications and late entries (people brought in on bench warrants).
As the list was about to commence last Thursday, barrister Andrew Dunne asked Judge Andrew Cody if he would consider allowing his client’s case to be heard early.
At the sitting, the defendant’s case was listed on the 11am summons list.
“She wants to jump the queue,” said Judge Cody, who asked the court presenter Garda Sgt JJ Kirby to give an outline of the woman’s case.
He said that at 2.45am on 19 September last year, gardaí stopped grandmother Laura Agnes Kerry (44), 27 Dunamaise View, Portlaoise at Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise.
He said she was driving with children in her car and was known at the time to have been disqualified from driving.
Ms Kerry had previously pleaded guilty to driving the car without insurance, without tax, without a driving licence and without a NCT at the time she was stopped.
Sgt Kirby said the defendant has 39 previous convictions and that her car was seized at the time.
Judge Cody asked why Ms Kerry was asking for her case to be heard early, to which Mr Dunne said: “Her daughter attends aftercare and she minds her children on Thursdays.” “Could she have not made alternative arrangements knowing that she was in court today? She just wants to jump the queue,” said Judge Cody, who went on to deal with the case, noting: “She had five previous convictions for driving without insurance.” Mr Dunne said that Ms Kerry: “Had entered a guilty plea on the first occasion. On the day she was driving the car due to a domestic incident. You (Judge Cody) would be very familiar with her as she is before the court on various offences.” Judge Cody adjourned the case to 21 May for sentencing, advising Ms Kerry to make alternative childcare arrangements for that date.
