Wexford District Court round-up: Drug driving, business failing to keep staff records and threats to kill among cases heard

Irish Independent

2 days ago

Drug Driving and Possession of Drugs
Timothy Curry (30) previously of 3 Aldercourt, Ferns, Wexford, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and drug driving at Gorey District Court on June 26.
The court heard that on March 24 2023 Garda McRory carried out a search warrant at the mobile home of Curry in Morristown, Kilmuckridge. Gardaí discovered cocaine to the value of €113, cannabis herb to the value of €140, and diazepam tablets to the value of €9. A search of the accused's apartment was then carried out where a further €80 of cannabis was discovered.
Curry was also before the court in relation to no insurance and two instances of drug driving which Judge Kevin Staunton indicated 'speak for themselves' and Garda evidence was not given in relation to these matters.
Donna Kelly BL told the court that in March 2023 the defendant's father had passed away and he was in a downward spiral at the time as it had a significant impact on him and his life. Ms. Kelly BL stated Curry works in construction and has a 13-year-old son and is aware that a driving disqualification will impact his day to day life. In circumstances where Curry has not come to Gardaí attention since Ms. Kelly BL asked the court to consider probation.
Judge Kevin Staunton remarked that all of the drug possession charges relate to one specific date and noted that it was 'unsatisfactory' to be dealing with charges from March 2023 in June 2025. He applied the Probation Act in relation to the possession of cocaine and the possession of cannabis and diazepam were taken into consideration. Curry received a one-year ban for the drug driving incident of December 14 2021 and a two-year ban for drug driving on February 4 2023, a further two-year ban was then imposed for driving without insurance.
Business Failed to Keep Time Records
The court heard that a 'prep and go' meal company in Enniscorthy was not keeping correct time records of its employees. The owner of the company, Daniel Lane of Duffy Gate, Enniscorthy, Wexford, was not present in court for the hearing of the case.
Evidence was given by a former workplace commissions inspector, Bernie Shelley, that on March 11 2023 she carried out an inspection of the sole trader where it was discovered that Lane had failed to keep records of the hours worked by the employees. There was no reply to the initial letter and reminder letters Ms. Shelley sent the accused instructing him to remedy the issue.
The company came to her attention again on June 5 2024 when an employee submitted a complaint that they did not receive the correct annual leave. A further compliance notice issued for the employee to have their annual leave compensated which also went ignored.
Judge Staunton ordered the accused pay a €2,500 fine with four months to pay.
Road Traffic Matters
A bench warrant was issued for Martin Patrick O'Brien (37) of 12 Nolan's Lawn, Enniscorthy, Wexford, for sentencing in relation to no insurance. O'Brien was driving on the Old Dublin Road on November 18 2024 when he was stopped by Garda Brophy for no insurance. The accused made admissions at the time and the vehicle was seized. Judge Staunton convicted O'Brien and issued a bench warrant for his sentencing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
A Kildare woman plead guilty to drug driving. The court heard that Paloma Dos Santos Rodrigues (33) of 1 Abbey Court, Castledermot, Kildare, was stopped driving on the N80 Carrickduff on May 28 2024 where she carried out a fluid test that proved positive for cannabis. Garda Nolan confirmed Santos has no previous convictions. Judge Staunton stated that the accused 'made an error in judgement' and that people have not yet grasped the amount of time that drugs will stay in your system. The Judge imposed the minimum sentence of a one year disqualification.
Bench Warrants
A bench warrant was issued for Keith Hall (23) of 12 Kiezer House, High Street, Waterford, in relation to multiple road traffic matters including no NCT, no licence, no insurance, no L plates, and driving unaccompanied.
There were also multiple bench warrants issued in the civil list under failure to comply:
Shane Byrne of Inch, Blackwater, Enniscorthy, Wexford.
John Travers of Ballinaslaney, Enniscorthy, Wexford.
Sam Duggan of 48 Strandfield Manor, Spawell Road, Wexford.
Anthony Dempsey of 26 Riverside, Ballinakill Downs, Waterford.
Lisa Byrne of 52 Parnell Park, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.
Road traffic matters
There were three road traffic matters heard before Judge John King at Wexford District Court on June 16.
A New Ross man was involved in a road traffic collision where he admitted to having no insurance. Raivis Komarovs (38) of Knockroe, New Ross, Wexford was involved in a car crash on January 4 2025 in New Ross where he admitted to not having insurance when Gardai attended, he was also charged with driving without L plates. Ravis was fined €500 with three months to pay and was also disqualified from driving for a period of two years.
John Byrne (44) of Apartment 15, Millwood, Bunclody, Wexford, was charged with a speeding offence. On December 18 2024 Byrne was travelling 124km on the N25 to New Ross which is a 100km road. The court heard the accused has sixteen previous convictions, nine of which are road traffic related. Byrne was fined €400 with two months to pay.
Edward Kehoe (63) of Fern Hallow, Clonleigh, Wexford, was before the court on speeding charges. Mr. Kehoe was travelling on the R731 on November 3 2024 at 91km when this is an 80km road. Kehoe has no previous convictions and was fined €200 with two months to pay.
Public Order
Shane Breen (38) of 3 Saint Joseph's Park, Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, was before Gorey District Court on June 18 on public order offences. Breen has 22 previous convictions, 19 of which are road traffic related. The court heard Breen was co-operative at the time of his arrest and Judge O'Connell fined €100 with three months to pay.
An Enniscorthy man was charged with public order offences. Keith Murphy (33) of 10 Cluain Aiteann, Bree, Enniscorthy, Wexford, pleaded guilty to a public order offences on April 3 2025 where Murphy was alleged to be standing on a public road with no shirt on and shouting obscenities at Gardai.
The court heard that on the day the accused was arguing with his partner and had drank too much. Murphy apologised for his actions. He has no previous convictions and in circumstances where Judge O'Connell remarked that his actions were 'very stupid' the accused was ordered to pay a €300 donation to Saint Vincent de Paul. The matter was adjourned to September 11 for payment to be made.
Threat to Kill
An Enniscorthy man was before the court to receive directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Pavlo Khlopov (32) of 4 Rectory Road, Enniscorthy, Wexford, was before the court on charges of a threat to kill.
It was alleged that on January 1 2025 the Gardai were called to a house in Enniscorthy were the tenant was intoxicated. The court heard that an argument had broken out and Khlopov had pinned the tenant to a couch and held a knife to his face while making threats to kill him.
The DPP directed summary disposal meaning the matter can be dealt with within the District Court and Judge O'Connell accepted jurisdiction. The matter has been adjourned to September 11 for the accused to plead guilty or to fix a date for hearing.
Book of Evidence
A book of evidence was served on co-accused Aivis Fadejevs (39) of 53 Bar an Ard, Coolcotts, Wexford, and Bobby Kelly (32) of Dooleys B&B, Barrick Street, Wexford when they appeared before Wexford District Court. Fadejevs has been charged with assault and the production of an article in the course of a dispute, whereas Kelly has been charged with assault.
Both men were given an alibi warning by Judge Mark O'Connell and appeared at Wexford Circuit Court on June 18.
Dog Attack on Neighbour's Cats
A man was before Wexford District Court for charges under the control of dogs act. Patrick Murphy (64) of Bushpark, Pallas East, Enniscorthy, Wexford, was on his farm on November 3 2023 with his two German Shepard dogs. The court heard Murphy went to get something from his jeep and when he returned the two dogs were gone.
Garda Behan gave evidence that on the day at 11am he received a report from the accused's neighbour that her cats were attacked on her property by the two dogs and one cat was killed.
Gerry Flynn, solicitor for the accused, told the court that Murphy is a farmer in a rural area, one of the dogs involved is an older female which is licensed in the name of his son, and the younger male was licensed in his own name. On the morning when Murphy realised the dogs were missing he called the dog warden before finding them on his neighbour's property which is one mile from his own. The defendant apologised to the woman and waited for Gardaí to attend.
Since the incident Murphy brought the dogs to the vets who recommended that the animals be split up. He subsequently sold the younger male to a suitable person in Limerick and still has the older female dog.
Murphy is a man of no previous convictions and there was also no victim impact statement given to the court. In those circumstances, Judge Mark O'Connell ordered the defendant to pay €150 compensation to the injured party and the matter would then be struck out.
Public Order
A Dublin man was charged with a public order offence on Trinity Street, Wexford on February 15 2025. At a sitting of Wexford District Court, Garda Moran gave evidence that at approximately 5:45am he witnessed Karl McGurk (40) of 82 Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, walking unsteady on his feet. Garda Moran told the court he was slurring his words and was highly intoxicated. McGurk has 55 previous convictions, the court was told. Judge O'Connell imposed a fine of €300 with two months to pay.
Wayne O'Dwyer (36) of 14 Mountain View, Ballylynch, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, was also before the court on public order charges. Garda Moran gave evidence that on February 21 2025 he discovered O'Dwyer asleep on South Main Street, Wexford, who was intoxicated at the time. The accused was said to have 29 previous convictions and was cooperative at the time of the arrest. Judge O'Connell imposed a fine of €200 with three months to pay.
Road Traffic Matters
A New Ross man alleged his wife was driving when his car was detected speeding.
Wililam Connors of Stoneview House, New Ross, Wexford, was charged with driving 107km on the R731 Rathnew which is an 80km road. Connors told Wexford District Court that his wife was driving on the day in question and that he had emailed the Gardaí to tell them this. The original fine was €160 but increased as Connors was away on holidays when the original fixed penalty notice was issued. Judge O'Connell imposed the original fine of €160.