District Court Summons Withdrawn

Perplexed22

I had never been to court before today. I received 2 summonses for non-payment of road traffic offences (being the registered owner of a car that had no tax displayed and was parked on a footpath).

I had only bought the car and had not received the registration so could not tax it at the time and it was my daughter who had parked illegally. After I got the penalty notices in the post I contacted the office in Thurles and explained the situation so they asked me to send on evidence so they could check it. My daughter said she would take care of and I thought no more about it until the summonses arrived. She had forgotten to deal with it.

I again contacted the office in Thurles and also tried to contact the Garda whose name was listed on the summonses and sent supporting documentation to both and a cheque for the parking penalty to Thurles. I got a letter a couple of days ago from the Thurles office with my cheque back. The letter also advised me to explain it in court (I never did hear from the Garda). When my name was called out in court the Superintendent said the case was withdrawn (the complaining Garda was off duty injured).

Is that it? Do I have to do anything else now? I had brought all my documents to court to defend myself and do not know if that is the end of it - any advice would be welcome

gustafo

couldn't read this or understand it with all the I&39,

Better off re-writing it with paragraphs.

krissovo

Same happened to me but for a slightly different offense, I was the only Muppet left in the Court Room at the end of the session. Judge told me the Garda may be in touch but that was 12 month ago. I am interested in the responces.

Perplexed22

They just popped up - I guess apostrophes are not recognised - will repost thank you

Perplexed22

Edited and now readable - any advice welcome

bath handle

Perplexed22 wrote: »

Edited and now readable - any advice welcome

Check with the District Court office that there was no adjournment. The Guards have the option of having a further summons issued, but in a minor case like yours are most unlikely to.

Perplexed22

Thanks for that - will do tomorrow

coylemj

bath handle wrote: »

Check with the District Court office that there was no adjournment. The Guards have the option of having a further summons issued, but in a minor case like yours are most unlikely to.

The OP never mentioned an adjournment, he heard the Super say the case was being withdrawn so the judge would have struck it out. In minor cases like this where the defendant turns up but the Garda does not then the case is typically struck out.

The Super. would normally ask for an adjournment if it was serious like drunk or dangerous driving but for crappy cases like parking tickets they just throw in the towel.

Agree that technically they could re-enter the case i.e. issue a new summons but for a minor case like this it's highly unlikely.

bath handle

I know the op never mentioned an adjournment. The op did say that he had never been in court before. In my experience many people simply mistake what has happened in court. They mis hear or don't hear something. A phone call will put the matter beyond doubt. It would be a disaster for the op if the matter had been adjourned rather than struck out. I agree the chances are slim. My policy is to take nothing for granted. Too many times people are convicted in their absence because of some slip up and they have the devil of a job trying to sort it out.