Portlaoise Court: Man sends ‘selfie’ from hospital bed
The case was adjourned at Portlaoise District Court
A MAN who was due at Portlaoise District Court on motoring offences sent his solicitor a ‘selfie’ from his hospital bed to explain his absence from court.
Giga Chachia (39) from Riverside, Shannon Street, Borrisokane, Tipperary had been due to appear on summonses of driving without insurance and a driving licence and having no car tax on 2 July 2024 at Straboe, Laois.
Outlining the alleged facts, Garda Ross Foy said that while on mobile patrol at 6.35pm that evening, he stopped a BMW car and found the driver had no insurance displayed. He said the tax on the car was out since 2023, the NCT had expired in 2021 and the car was seized.
Gda Foy said the defendant had four previous road traffic convictions.
It was at this stage that Mr Chachia’s solicitor, Philip Meagher, stood and produced his mobile phone, showing it to Judge Andrew Cody.
Mr Meagher said that his client had taken a selfie photograph of himself from his hospital bed, as proof that he was unable to attend court for his hearing.
“That could have been taken from anywhere,” said Judge Cody. “He could have jumped into a bed and taken the selfie. All that’s missing from the selfie is a get-well card and a few balloons.”
Adjourning the case to 25 September, Judge Cody said: “We’ll give him some Lucozade when he turns up.”
