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Galway Advertiser 2005/2005_03_03/GA_0303_E1_015.pdf
March 3 2005
Galway Advertiser
N E W S 15
Judge issues prison American critic of Zionism to warning for people who address Galway meeting drive while disqualified
BY KERNAN ANDREWS People who drive while already disqualified may to to prison if they come before Galway District Court from now on. That was the message Judge Mary Fahy said she wanted to go out from her court after she sentenced a Lithuanian man to four months in prison for driving while drunk, uninsured and already disqualified from driving, at this week's court sitting. And, to add insult to injury, the court heard that Marius Petrikas (21), 56 Tirellan Heights, Headford Road, Galway, was travelling at 151kms in a 50kms speed limit at Terryland, Galway, when he was stopped by Garda Gabriel Folan on February 6 last. A breath sample taken following his arrest gave a reading of 54 mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. The court heard the accused had been disqualified from driving for two years last March for another drink driving offence and he was not insured on the date of this latest offence because of that disqualification. Defence solicitor Noel Rhattigan said his client had been test driving his car with the intention of selling it because he knew he could no longer drive, when he was detected by Garda Folan. "It's quite obvious the correct message is not going out from this court; that people who are disqualified from driving must not drive. This man was disqualified and he comes along a short time later and drives at 151kph in a 50kph speed limit, with no insurance and while disqualified. I have to impose a custodial sentence. I have to set an example and send out a message," Judge Mary Fahy said, before imposing a four month sentence on the accused for the drink driving charge. She also disqualified him from driving for four years and imposed a further three-month concurrent sentence for not having insurance. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. The American journalist, historian, and critic of Zionism Leonard Brenner, will address a public meeting on Israel and Palestine tonight at 8pm in the Imperial Hotel, Eyre Square. Mr Brenner is the author of five books, including: Zionism in the Age of the Dictators, and The Iron Wall: Zionist Revisionism from Jabotinsky to Shamir. He has had articles published in the Jewish
Guardian, the New Statesman and the Journal of Palestine Studies. The meeting is being organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. All are welcome.
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