Covid excuse doesn't work a second time for Mayo woman
The defendant failed to appear before Ballina District Court
A bench warrant has been issued for a Charlestown woman who failed to appear in court.
Annie Maughan, 3 St Christopher’s Close, Laveymore, Charlestown was due to appear before last Friday’s sitting of Ballina District Court to face theft charges.
However, Sgt Fiona Farrell told the court that Ms Maughan had sent the court an email via her solicitor Cathy McDarby to explain her absence. The email contained a picture of a positive Covid-19 test and a picture of her PPS number.
However, Sgt Farrell explained to Judge Vincent Deane that she received a similar email with a similar photograph from Ms Maughan while working at Castlebar District Court last month. Given these circumstances, she asked Judge Deane to issue a bench warrant.
Judge Deane agreed to issue the warrant and asked that the situation with the photographs be brought to the attention of the sitting judge when the warrant is executed. He also praised Sgt Farrell for noticing that similar photographs had been sent two weeks apart by the same defendant.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
