A District Court judge in Kerry yesterday avoided a conviction for “the most minor” of road offences after he offered to pay more than the going rate into the poor box in the court he normally presides over.
Judge James O’Connor presides over District 17, most of the courts in Co Kerry, and yesterday through his solicitor he pleaded guilty to failure to display a valid national car testing disc (NCT) when his car was parked outside the courthouse on July 21st 2011, a day when the court was sitting in Cahersiveen.
The matter had been adjourned from January after Judge O’Connor was summonsed to appear before himself, and he adjourned it to allow an independent judge to be present.
Judge Patrick Clyne was assigned to deal with the matter and the rest of yesterday’s list.
Evidence of the offence was given by Garda Tomás Hurley, who said that on July 21st, 2011, he had observed a 2004 vehicle parked in New Market Street, Cahersiveen, with no NCT disc.
Judge Clyne questioned the judge’s solicitor, Eamon Kelly, as to whether the matter had been “remedied”. Judge Clyne also asked if the defendant had pervious convictions, and he was told there were none.
Mr Kelly said the vehicle was immediately tested and “it passed with flying colours”.
He said he had instructions to give “in excess” of the €100 - €150 normally accepted in Cahersiveen for such an offence and he was offering €250.
The money is to go to St Vincent de Paul.