Man pleads guilty in Castlebar court while sitting in a car in the USA

A BALLINA man made history at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty to a public order offence via videolink while sitting in a car in the United States.

Michael Delaney of 7 St Patrick's Estate, Ballina appeared before Judge Eoin Garavan where he pleaded guilty to Section 6 of the Public Order Act for breach of the peace in St Patrick's Estate in Ballina on January 30, 2017.

Mr Delaney currently resides in the United States and the court and the prosecution agreed with a request to have him arraigned via a video link. Judge Garavan commented that it must be the first time that a man has been arraigned in a car.

Ms Áine Boyle, counsel for Mr Delaney, asked for her client 's case to be finalised in his absence and for sentencing to take place on October 25, alongside other accused persons in the case. She said that there may be difficulties with her client's work permit in the US if he was to come back home for the case.

Judge Eoin Garavan commented that it must be the first time that a man has been arraigned in a car.

However, Judge Garavan said that Mr Delaney has to be before the court for his sentencing and refused to finalise the matter on October 25 if he fails to appear. He agreed to adjourn the matter until October but said that it would be absurd to finalise it while Mr Delaney is not present.

Judge Garavan said he was there to administer justice and not to assist Mr Delaney and adjourned the case until October 25.