Judge Pat McCartan yesterday affirmed a six-month prison sentence against Brian Meehan, of Clifton Court Apartments, Wolfe Tone Quay, Dublin. Meehan had failed to turn up in the Circuit Court to prosecute an appeal from the District Court against his sentence for driving without insurance and a driving licence. The court heard he was abroad.
Meehan was not legally represented. When his case was called, Garda John O'Donovan told Judge McCartan: "The position in this case is that the defendant has been out of the country for the last eight to 10 months."
He told the court that Meehan had been released by the District Court last July on his own bail, with an independent surety of £500. A bail bond had been entered into by Mr Edward Mitchell, of North Summer Street, Dublin.
Garda O'Donovan said he had served notice on Mr Mitchell on Wednesday that the appeal was to be heard in the Circuit Court. Mr Mitchell had confirmed that Meehan was out of the State.
Judge McCartan struck out Meehan's appeal. After the hearing, Garda O'Donovan said a committal warrant for Meehan would be made out under normal Garda practice.