CASE DISMISSED - Some strange but totally true court cases that actually took place!

Taken from genuine court cases from the past. Three genuine crackers here folks!

MOTORIST THOUGHT HE HAD STRUCK CAT!

(Tallow Court 1984)

A county Waterford motorist who crashed into two parked cars subsequently denied it to the Gardai and claimed finally that he thought it was a cat he had

struck. This story was told at Tallow Court last Friday when the accused from

Glencairn, Lismore was charged with dangerous driving at West Street in

Tallow. He was also charged with failing to stop after an accident and failing

to report it to the Gardai. The Superintendent involved said the accused car

collided with the cars, went across the road then hit another but then drove

on and while he wasn’t caught, a certain amount of information had been

obtained. Later that night the Superintendent went to the accused home and

interviewed him about the matter. At first, he denied all knowledge but when

the Gardai saw paint marks on his car which corresponded with the colour of

the two cars he had hit.

At that point the accused has asked was there remains of a cat hair

smeared to any of the cars as he was convinced he had hit a cat. Worried that

it “might be someone’s moggie” he drove away in panic.

“I’m telling you it was definitely a cat I hit!” he maintained.

The solicitor defending the accused had said he had been very foolish to deny

his crime (he would eventually pay for the damage to both cars) The fact the

accused was a driver by occupation made things worse. He also was due to be

married soon and any fine wouldn’t go down well with his bride to be as they

were saving for their big day. The Judge in question did not suspend the accused. Instead he fined him £20 for failing to stop, ordered him to pay £5 expenses and endorsed the conviction on his driving licence.

No cat was actually hurt in this story, mainly due to the fact the accused was insane.

TOLD GARDAI HE INTENDED TO DRIVE WHILE DRUNK

Tramore Court (September 1978)

A middle-aged Waterford man who was said to be ‘in the bakes’ approached

two Gardai after he had left a licenced premises and told them he was going

to drive his car home, it was stated at Tramore District Court on Tuesday.

The accused (55) of Drumcannon was charged with driving while drunk at

Pickardstown on September 16th 1978.

The Gardai said he was on duty at the corner of the De Luxe Bar around 8.30 on

the date in question. The defendant approached him and was very unsteady

on his feet and carrying a bottle of vodka. He said he was going to drive home as he was late to watch a GAA game on television. Witnesses had strongly advised him not too. The Gardai went away but returned two minutes later and saw the man get into his Volkswagen car. The Gardai followed him and quickly caught up with the accused. This was easy as his car had stopped beyond a junction and was now buried in a ditch. The driver was slumped over the wheel and was mumbling to himself.

The Guard went on to say the defendant then got out of the car though was

still unsteady on his feet. He refused to give his full name and address and

became very abusive towards the officer. A witness came along and identified

the man as he had been drinking with him earlier in the pub.

Defending the accused, his solicitor said his client had travelled to Waterford

by car from Dublin on the day in question to visit a sister in hospital in

Waterford. He had another sister in the car. About 1pm he had stopped for

“half a bottle” in Kilcullen and later for “half one and a large stout” near

Waterford. This would be a foolish move and added to the defendant’s state.

He admitted his client had been intoxicated on leaving the public house

and that getting behind a driving wheel was “beyond stupidity”. The judge

in question fined him £5 and disqualified him driving for 12 months. He

endorsed the conviction on his licence.

DEFENDANT TIPPED OFF GARDAI ABOUT ROBBERY BID

Waterford District Court (August 1987)

“One of the strangest cases I have ever heard” said the Judge at the Waterford

District Court on Friday in describing the story of two young men , one from

South Kilkenny, the other Tipperary who came to be arrested by Waterford

detectives and charged with attempted robbery. Steven (29) and Joseph (26)

were charged at Water Street , Waterford as they attempted to rob a sub-postmistress. Both pleaded guilty to the crime. During the hearing it was

stated that Steven had actually telephoned the Gardai to say the Post Office

was going to be robbed. As a result of this Gardai made their way to the

Post Office in Newtown Hill! The accused was “off his head” when he foolishly made this call, basically confessing to a crime he was yet to commit!”

There had been a demand made for money

but the defendant was taken into police custody. Steven had never been in

court before and came from a respectable family. Defending the accused his

solicitor stated “my client is a bit gullible and has large lapses in memory. He

was totally lead into this position by a friend of his who wanted him to hold

up the Post Office.”

That person would be Joseph whom Steven had met at the Corner House Bar

early that day. They had a discussion about the potential robbery of a nearby

petrol station but decided against it after a friend said he had robbed it the

week before! Later that day Joseph was stopped for having no insurance or tax

on his car and had to go to Newtown Garda Station and produce his driving

licence. The defendant was upset at being caught with no tax insurance (and

two bald tyres) that he suggested “I’ll have to rob a Post office now to get

some money.” From there he drove to Water Street where he met Steven and

ran into the Post Office demanding for the money in the till. Within a minute

of entering the premises both men were arrested by Gardai who had followed

both men to the Post Office.

Joseph received a 1 year jail sentence while Steven received a nine month jail sentence.