Laois man failed to sign-on at local garda station on 25 occasions
Portlaoise Courthouse
BAIL conditions on a Portlaoise man required him to sign on twice daily at the local garda station. However, in a five-week period, he failed to sign on 25 separate occasions.
That was the evidence given when Seamus Coss from 64 O’Moore Place, Portlaoise was brought before last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court after being arrested for breaching bail conditions.
The court heard that bail had been granted to Mr Coss on 6 November, with conditions. At that sitting, he had been remanded on his own bail to appear in court again on 5 February to monitor whether he was abiding by the conditions.
One of the bail conditions was that Mr Coss was to sign on twice daily every day from 9am to 1pm and from 4-6.30pm.
The court heard that on dates between 5 November and 3 December, Mr Coss had missed signing on at the garda station on 25 occasions, but that other conditions that had been imposed were being adhered to. These included obeying a nightly curfew, keeping sober habits, appears at all court hearings and that he stay out of Laois Shopping Centre.
Defending barrister Anne Doyle said that apart from the issue of not signing on, her 36-year-old client observed all the other conditions that had been placed on him.
She said: “The reason why he will say that he couldn’t sign on between 4.30 and 6.30pm is that he was attacked while on his way to sign on and was in fear.” However, Judge Cody was informed by gardaí: “He also missed his early mornings sign-ons.” Ms Doyle said: “Twice a day, every day is a significant burden. He is here with injuries that he received when he was attacked on his way to this court today.” She asked Judge Cody to consider allowing her client to sign on once a day at the garda station.
Judge Cody asked: “Why didn’t he sign on in the mornings? It’s not dark then. Surely, he’s not afraid of the dark in the mornings? I want to know if he is going to comply with the conditions of his bail?” Taking the stand Mr Coss said: “I’ll agree to sign on and abide by all the conditions. I’ve stayed out of trouble and haven’t been in any shops in the town. I’m sticking by all the other rules. Since I came out of jail I’ve kept out of trouble. It’ll be my first Christmas to spend with my daughter, if I’m still out.” Judge Cody noted: “In fairness, he seems to be making an effort. I’m going to remand him on the same conditions to 11 December (Portlaoise court).”
