A JUDGE gave tongue-in-cheek support to vigilantism yesterday, when he suggested during a case of farmyard theft that Co Mayo farmer Pádraig Nally (who was found not guilty of manslaughter in 2006) was the best man to put a stop to that sort of crime.
“It takes a Mayo man to put an end to that sort of thing and I’m not talking about myself. I’m talking about the venerable Pádraig Nally,” said Judge Séamus Hughes in Athlone District Court.
Mr Nally was acquitted of the manslaughter of John Ward after shooting him on his Co Mayo farm in October 2004.
Judge Hughes, who recently suggested a man climb Croagh Patrick “and do the Stations” to avoid a conviction, was commenting yesterday on the case of Martin Stokes (20), Monksland, Athlone, who had pleaded guilty to charges of theft and trespass from a Roscommon farmyard.
Stokes and a co-defendant were seen driving from the yard by the owner who knew them and were later identified while selling the scrap and batteries for €60.
Judge Hughes sentenced Stokes to 11 months in jail, suspended for two years. In the same court yesterday, he ordered a defendant to bring a trailer of turf to St Vincent de Paul “for distribution amongst the elderly” .
Judge Hughes issued the order to Derek Horan (28), who pleaded guilty to having Stanley blades while trespassing at the Marist College on July 29th last. Horan said he had confiscated the blades from teenagers as he did not want “kids cutting kids”. He admitted being drunk.
Judge Hughes, inquiring as to the suitability of Horan for a community service order, asked him: “Have you your pick and shovel?” Horan said he was “well up for it” as he had been out on the bog all week with his father and had another trailer load of turf to bring in.
The judge told Horan to cut a trailer load and deliver it to St Vincent de Paul. He remanded Horan on bail until December 23rd for a community service report.