This article is from page 14 of the 2006-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A COUNTY Kerry solicitor has claimed that Kilrush District Court is engaging in a policy of “regulating an individual’s behaviour under the guise of the Bail Act”, by imposing strict curfews on defendants.
Pat Enright, of Lees Solicitors, Listowel, was in court yesterday representing a 17-yearold Kilrush youth, who faced having his bail revoked and being imprisoned for several alleged breaches of his bail conditions. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found to have breached the terms of bail imposed on him in December, when he appeared for an alleged offence under the Public Order Act.
Mr Enright said he had no doubt that the court was entitled to impose conditions, but asked that it reflect on the effects of such conditions.
Pointing out that two other individuals were jailed by the same court yesterday for breaching bail terms the solicitor said, “all that is happening is that another layer of criminality is being introduced to the system. Gardaí are spending their time enforcing curfews when they could be dealing with other more serious matters,” he argued.
Mr Enright agreed with Judge Mangan that he was in court in December when the bail conditions were imposed and did not object at the time.
Judge Mangan revoked to accused’s bail and remanded him in custody to appear in court in Ennis on Friday next.