A DROGHEDA man was given a 12-month suspended sentence by the Special Criminal Court yesterday for contempt of court after he failed to give evidence in a kidnap trial.
Mr Justice Johnson told Seamus Cudden (18), of Brookville Park, Drogheda, that the sentence would be suspended on condition that Cudden gave an undertaking to be of good behaviour for five years.
The judge said Cudden would also have to undertake to give evidence should the State decide to proceed with the base against Mr Stephen Boyle.
Mr Justice Johnson said Cudden had been guilty of contempt on three occasions by failing to turn up and give evidence.
The court was told that Cudden was arrested on Monday night on foot of a warrant issued by the court.
On three occasions he had failed to turn up to give evidence in the trial of Mr Stephen Boyle (26,), of Grange Close, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk.
Mr Boyle was accused of falsely imprisoning Cudden at Carrstown, Drogheda on May 30th last year and Cudden was the main prosecution witness.
Last month the State decided not to proceed with the case against Mr Boyle but Mr Peter Charleton, SC, said the State might re enter the matter if Cudden became available.
Cudden said in evidence yesterday that he had been under Garda protection which he had not asked for.
He said he had not turned up to give evidence because his nerves" were gone.
"I just couldn't take any more," he said. "I couldn't cope. It's too much for me."