Man has charge reinstated against him in Kildare court
ABSENCE
A defendant who left Naas District Court early on Thursday, December 1, was chastised by a sitting judge, which resulted in him getting a charge reinstated.
Jake Finney, with an address listed as 8 Glen Ding Square in Blessington, County Wicklow, had one charge against him dropped on the date in question.
Gardaí said that the 19-year-old had threatened to kill another person at a property in Blessington on October 31, 2020.
It was also heard that he assaulted a person and produced a knife during a fight at Dempsey’s Lane, Blessington, on November 13, 2020.
Mr Finney pleaded guilty to the production and assault offences, and the threat to kill charge was dropped.
SECOND CALLING
Judge Joanne Carroll adjourned the case to a second calling, but when the case resumed later that day, he failed to turn up to the courtroom.
His defending solicitor Tim Kennelly admitted to the judge that he did not know why his client wasn’t present in court.
"He’s usually very good when it comes to attending (court)," he added.
Speaking to Judge Carroll about his client, Mr Kennelly said his client 'had a rather turbulent upbringing' and had 'been acting out' at the time of the offences.
He insisted to the judge that Mr Finney had turned his life around.
However, Judge Carroll was unimpressed by his absence, and said that Mr Finney had shown 'a considerable lack of backbone' by leaving the building.
She ultimately decided to adjourn the case to April 13, 2023, to allow time for a probation report, although she warned Mr Kennelly that if he fails to turn up on this date, or if he does not comply with the probation services, his client 'might find himself in difficulty.'
Bail was granted for Mr Finney until his return to court next year.