A Co Monaghan trader involved in a dispute about ownership of a quarry near Scotstown yesterday escaped being sent to prison after lodging a cheque for £8,500 with the High Court. Mr Justice Finnegan warned Mr Martin Sweeney he need not expect to be treated as leniently in the future in the event of any further transgression by him of court orders.
Mr Justice Finnegan last week imposed a £3,500 fine on Mr Sweeney, of Maghaharney, Smithboro, and ordered that £5,000 be lodged into court by him as an alternative to going to prison for breach of court orders.
The judge found Mr Sweeney had breached court orders restraining him from attending at the Scotstown quarry, ownership of which is disputed between Mr Sweeney and another man, and from removing stone material from the quarry pending the outcome of a court action to settle the ownership dispute.
Proceedings over the ownership of the quarry have been brought against Mr Sweeney and Alco Enterprises Ltd by Mr Thomas Leddy of Gragadder, Kilcock, Co Kildare.
Yesterday, the judge was told by counsel for Mr Sweeney the money had been lodged in court. Mr Justice Finnegan said normally such breaches would merit a significant term of imprisonment. If there was any further flouting of court orders, the same degree of leniency would not be shown, he said.