Defendant repeatedly tells Judge: 'I am an idiot'

A Donegal man who was in court over an unpaid parking fine and a fine for having no road tax repeatedly told a District Court Judge: “I am an idiot”.

John Gallagher, of Bomany, Letterkenny, was before Letterkenny District Court this week.

Gallagher repeated the statement six times to Judge Éiteáin Cunningham and claimed several times, “I do not understand legalese.”

When the case was initially called, Gallagher took to his feet and said: “I am an idiot and I haven’t a clue what’s going on.”

When Judge Cunningham told the defendant that she wouldn’t think that he was ‘anything of the sort’, Gallagher repeated the statement.

Asked whether he was pleading guilty or not guilty to the charges, arising out of a detection at Navenny car park in Ballybofey on September 6, 2022, Gallagher told the court: “Anyone who offers a plea on my behalf takes full responsibility.”

The court heard evidence from a Donegal County Council traffic warden, who said that a vehicle was spotted in the car park on September 6, 2022 with the tax having expired in January, 2022.  The tax arrears amounted to €411.20, Mr Kevin McElhinney, solicitor for Donegal County Council, told the court.

A fixed charge penalty notice was issued, but was unpaid.

Having told Judge Cunningham that he did not understand legalese, Gallagher added: “I am not here to testify. I am an idiot. I don’t understand legalese.”

Judge Cunningham explained that the evidence given had alleged that he parked without a valid parking ticket and that his vehicle was not taxed.

Gallagher told the court: ”I am an idiot. I don’t understand legalese and I am not Mr Gallagher.”

Asked again by Judge Cunningham if he had anything to say, the accused replied: “My name is capital J lowercase o, h, n, capital J, lowercase o, s, e, p, h, capital G, lowercase a, l, l, a, g, h, e, r. I am not Mister Gallagher or Mister anything.”

Judge Cunningham said she found the facts proven against Gallagher, who has no previous convictions.

Gallagher was convicted and fined €411.20 for having no road tax with costs of €138 also awarded against the accused.

Regarding the parking summons, Judge Cunningham said the facts had been proven. Gallagher was fined €80 and ordered to pay €138 in costs.

Judge Cunningham allowed six month to pay.

Recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed at €500, with €250 to be lodged.