Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_10_24/GA_24102002_E1_026.pdf 

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A man who posed as a top jockey and took a gullible American tourist for a ride by stealing her 20,000 rental car, was sentenced to 22 months in prison this week. Terry Kirby ( 3 6 ) , 37 Ballymoney Flats, N e w b r i d g e , C o Kildare, had gone to England years ago to train as an amateur jockey but failed to make the grade. He returned to Ireland and used his inside k n o w l e d g e in the racing business to c o m m i t a number o f offences. Sergeant Michael Coppinger gave evidence at Galway District Court that American tourist, Robin Ward, came to G a l w a y city on M a y 2 0 last and booked into a hostel in Woodquay. She went to a pub next door where Kirby chatted her up. He told her he was top professional j o c k e y . Dean Gallagher. She hired a new Nissan Almera car, worth 20,000, the next day and Kirby joined her in her tour of Connemara. Ten days later, when she was due to return the car to the rental company, Kirby offered to fill it with petrol for her. She let him have the car but that was the last she saw o f him. Kirby went to D o o l i n , C o Clare, where he stole 6 0 0 cash, credit cards, and other items b e l o n g i n g to a Japanese tourist in a hostel. He then went to Muinebheag, Co Carlow and s t o l e a wallet containing 2 5 0 belonging to jockey, Jamie Codd, from Mr Codd's unattended car. O n July 3 0 , Kirby stole another wallet from a parked car in Loughrea. He also managed to get a forged 2 5 0 cheque cashed in the Hole in the Wall pub, in Eyre Street, Galway, on July 29, using a stolen chequebook. Sergeant Coppinger said Kirby had 35 previous convictions going back to 1983. Defending solicitor, Adrian MacLynn said Kirby had returned from England a failed j o c k e y and got involved in drug and alcohol abuse. Imposing various terms of imprisonment on all charges, totalling 22 months, Judge John Garavan said Kirby had ridden off into the sunset like John Wayne after taking advantage of the tourist.

Westside couple Failed jockey took tourist prosecuted for noise for a ride, court hears pollution
A couple who stay up every night drinking, fighting, and playing country and western m u s k , were successfully prosecuted by their neighbour under the Noise Pollution Act, at Galway District Court this week. Winnie and Michael Mongan, 53 Droim Chaoin, Bishop O'Donnell Road, Galway, stay up all night playing music, drinking and fighting, a c c o r d i n g to their neighbour, Martin Curran, 54 D r o i m Chaoin, w h o brought the prosecution. He said he had been advised by the Garda to seek the order under the Noise Pollution Act, because there was nothing they could do until the Act was enforced. The couple were not in court when Mr Curran told Judge John Garavan that be and his family couldn't get a wink o f sleep because o f the noise emanating from the Mongan household. He said the music went on all night for most nights of the week and the Mongans were often joined by their relatives and friends. They drank, played loud music and were always fighting, Mr Curran said. "And what music have you come to hate most?" Judge John Garavan asked. "Richie Kavanagh and Big T o m , " Mr Curran replied. Mr Curran said the Mongan house was beginning to l o o k like a Garda Station because he regularly called the Gardai to complain and they were up at the Mongan house every night. "There are a lot of kids there too, up until three or four in the moming, fighting, crying and screaming. "My family are up most nights now and cannot sleep. The noise stops when the Gardai arrive but it starts up again when they are gone. "I've complained to the Corporation but they've done nothing," he said. Judge Garavan said he a c c e p t e d Mr Curran's e v i d e n c e and he ordered the abatement o f the noise created by the Mongans.

'Unruly and incorrigible' teenager back before c o u r t
A 15-years-old girl, who was again deemed 'unruly and incorrigible' at Galway District Court earlier this week and sent to Mountjoy prison for three days was back before the court again today. The girl, who is under the care of the Western Health Board, has been brought before the court on a regular basis over the last two years and at one point absconded seven times from a 285,000 course which was put in place by the health board in an attempt to keep her under control. In recent weeks the girl absconded from die health boardrun residential centre where she had been staying, and was reported missing. She then came back and promised to behave herself, but she was back before the court three weeks a g o after damaging property at the centre. Judge Garavan sent her to Mountjoy for one week on that occasion but staff at the WHB-run centre agreed to take her back after that. He then remanded her on bail on condition that she observe a curfew at the residential centre, not go near Westside. attend all appointments set up for her, obey the house rules, and be accompanied when out and about by a staff member from theresidentialcentre. The court heard earlier this week that the girl did not fulfil the terms of her hail and Judge Garavan declared her unruly and incorrigible for a third time and remanded her in custody to Mountjoy. He said the girl could not reside at the WHB-run centre in Galway any longer and a place would have to be found for her elsewhere. She was back before the court again today where staff at the WHB centre look her back for a further Iwo weeks. She will appear before the court again on November 6. The Judge warned her she would be facing a six-months slay in Mountjov if she did not hchatc in the meantime.

Waterford m a n j ailed for robbing f a r m e r in city d u r i n g race week
A Waterford youth who robbed an elderly farmer during Race Week in Galway and broke into three premises in the city during the same period, was sentenced to a total of 21 months' imprisonment, at Galway District Court this week. Jason Flynn, from Scotch Quay, Waterford, pleaded guilty to robbing a 76-years-old farmer he and an accomplice met during the races on August 1 last o f two Dept. o f Agriculture cheques and his glasses. He also pleaded guilty to breaking into two apartments at Aras na Mara, Salthill, and stealing a wallet, credit cards, coin purse and mobile phone from one, and car keys and a mobile phone from the other. Superintendent Mick Curley said Flynn and another youth befriended the elderly farmer who was looking for a place to stay for the night during the Races. They told him to sit into their car. Flynn's accomplice then sat behind the man and held him by the throat while Flynn searched him and took his belongings. Flynn, a father and drug addict, had served sentences before for similar offences, the court was told. He had committed 24 other similar offences in the Waterford area before coming to Galway to commit these three. Judge John Garavan imposed varying sentences on all of the 27 charges before the court, totalling 21 months.

Shantalla driver sentenced for insurance driving charge
A Shantalla youth who has six previous convictions for driving without insurance was given a suspended three-month sentence for a seventh offence at Galway District Court this week. Mark King. 34 McDara Road, Shantalla, was stopped while driving a car near his home on August 17 and admitted not having insurance. Prosecuting Garda Shane Cummins said King had already served a three-month sentence in 2000 for a similar offence. Defending solicitor, Benen Fahy, said he had not been made aware that his client had already served a sentence. He said King had recently broken his ankle and was not able to attend court. Judge John Garavan fined King 300 and sentenced him to three months in prison, suspended on his own surety of 1,000, and warned him that he would serve that sentence if he got into trouble again.

M a n threw stones at Salthill takeaway staff
A 19-years-old man w h o threw stones at staff in a Salthill takeaway was given a suspended sentence at Galway District Court. Gus Gillespie, from Ballysimon Road. Limerick, was asked to leave the Salt *n' Pepper takeaway in Salthill at 1 am on August 8 last because be was drunk. He and his companion, a juvenile, left but they came back at 2.30 a.m. with their pockets full of stones and started throwing them over the counter at staff. Superintendent Mick Curley said a staff member was slightly injured by a stone customers until the Gardai arrived. The court heard Gillespie was working and willing to pay compensation for the broken door. Judge John Garavan sentenced Gillespie to six months' detention, suspended for two years and ordered him to keep the peace for the period. He fined him 200 for

.mashed it. Both were detained by staff and