Man sentenced to go to Mayo...

karlog · 17-09-2010 01:42PM

Judge Hughes said he was very serious about the issue.

Mr O’Gorman asked the judge how his client would be able to prove that he climbed Croagh Patrick.

Judge Hughes replied that he will have questions prepared: "You’d better have the answers, and I will know whether you are telling the truth or not."

An easier solution would be to have video evidence of his climb, instead of a Q&A session.

starbelgrade · 17-09-2010 01:47PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Video camera, I would assume. I was referring to them telling the judge to f*ck off. No matter what way you put it, that is being ignorant.

And forcing someone - by law - to carry out a religious act, against their principles, isn't ignorant?

How does that work, Ted?

mikom · 17-09-2010 01:49PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

And forcing someone - by law - to carry out a religious act, against their principles, isn't ignorant?

How does that work, Ted?

Sharia law Irish style.

starbelgrade · 17-09-2010 01:50PM

mikom wrote: »

Sharia law Irish style.

Thanks, Ted. I get it now.

17-09-2010 01:53PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

And forcing someone - by law - to carry out a religious act, against their principles, isn't ignorant?

How does that work, Ted?

What would you do if you were the judge? Fining them? That won't achieve anything. Sentencing them to a week in jail? That won't do anything either. At least making a 58 year old alcoholic walk up a hill like that will make him think twice about being abusive.

IvySlayer · 17-09-2010 01:55PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What would you do if you were the judge? Fining them? That won't achieve anything. Sentencing them to a week in jail? That won't do anything either. At least making a 58 year old alcoholic walk up a hill like that will make him think twice about being abusive.

He's 38 and unemployed. Maybe ban him from all pubs for about 6 months..Maybe cut his dole for a few months.

Will there be a Garda watching him do it? Will he have to sign in at every Garda station? What happens if he doesn't turn up?

It's a joke of a sentence.

starbelgrade · 17-09-2010 01:56PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What would you do if you were the judge? Fining them? That won't achieve anything. Sentencing them to a week in jail? That won't do anything either. At least making a 58 year old alcoholic walk up a hill like that will make him think twice about being abusive.

Making him walk up a hill - maybe. Telling him to pray. No.

When you start bringing religious punishments into secular law, that's a very slippery slope to start on.. the courts aren't confession boxes.

ILA · 17-09-2010 01:59PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

He's 38 and unemployed. Maybe ban him from all pubs for about 6 months..Maybe cut his dole for a few months.

Will there be a Garda watching him do it? Will he have to sign in at every Garda station? What happens if he doesn't turn up?

It's a joke of a sentence.

Queue the creation of the Garda HillWalking Support Unit (GHSU)

df1985 · 17-09-2010 02:02PM

dlofnep wrote: »

Sounded fine until the "say a few prayers" bollocks.

I love how someone who thanked this post has the username "dougal-maguire."

Feck praying ted, its a load of bollocks!

Prof.Badass · 17-09-2010 02:02PM

Should being verbally abusive to a garda really be a punishable offence in itself? I mean, you wouldn't go to court for being verbally abusive to a randomer on the street. You'd be told to move on.

With all the more serious crime going on, should our justice system really be wasting it's time with a guy who omg "called a garda a mayo wanker!!!"?

idk, i'm just inclined to think a modern proffessional police force should be above responsding to petty juvenile insults.

I can understand why physical assault against a garda is treated much more seriously than normal physical assault (the extra detterant stops some people from trying something stupid to get away), but i can't see how mouthing off at the gardaí has any effect.

Just seems like a pointless excercise to demonstrate their authority.

-EDIT- Failing to comply with garda instruction sounds like something proper. Kinda stupid that the story draws attention to the name calling

.

IvySlayer · 17-09-2010 02:05PM

Prof.Badass wrote: »

Should being verbally abusive to a garda really be a punishable offence in itself? I mean, you wouldn't go to court for being verbally abusive to a randomer on the street.

With all the more serious crime going on, should our justice system really be wasting it's time with a drunk who omg "called a garda a mayo wanker!!!"?

idk, i'm just inclined to think a modern proffessional police force should be above responsding to petty juvenile insults.

I can understand why physical assault against a garda is treated much more seriously than normal physical assault (the extra detterant stops some people from trying something stupid to get away), but i can't see how mouthing off at the gardaí has any effect.

Just seems like a pointless excercise to demonstrate their authority.

He followed him for 10 minutes abusing him. I'd say they were patient enough. Gardaí do a hard job and don't need some drunk roaring at them.

Cookie_Monster · 17-09-2010 02:05PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What would you do if you were the judge? Fining them? That won't achieve anything. Sentencing them to a week in jail? That won't do anything either. At least making a 58 year old alcoholic walk up a hill like that will make him think twice about being abusive.

yeah, thats bit is fine, no issue with it. Think its quite novel.

But adding the religious part is overstepping a boundary, religion has no place in the legal system. would the same punishment have been given if he was muslim (or other)? Could you imagine the outrage that would have caused?

how can you provide evidence of saying a prayer to God when he doesn't exist? its just unpossible

nibtrix · 17-09-2010 02:15PM

Apparently it's not enforceable:

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/penance-for-garda-insult-is-to-climb-croagh-patrick-2341148.html

Last night a legal expert said while judges can make suggestions as to ways in which defendants can show their remorse, such unusual proposals, such as climbing Croagh Patrick, are unenforceable under law.

"It does seem a bizarre suggestion, but it's not unprecedented," one legal source explained.

"It's a somewhat more unusual variation of a theme, like paying out to a court poor box or a local charity. It isn't a penalty, just a suggestion that you should do something to show you're truly sorry."

While Judge Hughes has presided over Donegal District Court for less than a year, his occasionally unusual ideas have already attracted attention.

The Mayo man, a Fianna Fail TD between 1992 and 1997, began presiding over District Court proceedings last October.

He often asks defendants who have pleaded guilty to show their regret for their actions by taking part in community charity groups, before deciding what legal penalty to hand down.

17-09-2010 02:26PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'd rather serve time than have some halfwit judge forcing his religion on me. I have my principles.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

how so. the judge is using the state legal structure to enforce his religious beliefs on someone as part of their sentence they must carry out and provide proof of.

how the feck are you even supposed to prove you prayed to God or whoever?

Will ye stop talking rot.

goose2005 · 17-09-2010 02:27PM

what next, will people be circumcised, or ordered to make hajj?

aDeener · 17-09-2010 02:27PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

And forcing someone - by law - to carry out a religious act, against their principles, isn't ignorant?

How does that work, Ted?

claiming to say you would have told a judge to go fuck himself and do time in jail instead of climbing a mountain, is pretty damn hilarious...... and hardy, really hardy. i bet that judge wouldn't even sit in a courtroom with you, he would be that petrified.

bennyc · 17-09-2010 02:38PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'd rather serve time than have some halfwit judge forcing his religion on me. I have my principles.

So would you have refused to swear on the holy bible also ??

mikom · 17-09-2010 02:40PM

bennyc wrote: »

So would you have refused to swear on the holy bible also ??

DUN..DUN..DUN..DUUUUUN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

nibtrix · 17-09-2010 02:50PM

goose2005 wrote: »

what next, will people be circumcised, or ordered to make hajj?

Like I said a few posts ago, telling this guy to go up a mountain is not an enforceable punishment - it's not even a sentence. Sentence will be passed on October 11. The judge is suggesting the guy goes and climbs the mountain in the meantime to show how sorry he is, but the guy doesn't have to do it (though presumably the judge would give him a lighter sentence if he did).

Suggesting that it will lead to sentences of circumcision or forced hajj is a bit over the top.

bennyc wrote: »

So would you have refused to swear on the holy bible also ??

This would not be a problem, it's ok to refuse to swear on a bible, I think you just have to make a different oath.

starbelgrade · 17-09-2010 07:04PM

bennyc wrote: »

So would you have refused to swear on the holy bible also ??

Yes. Why would I swear on a book that means f*ck all to me?

Terry · 17-09-2010 07:58PM

I was giving evidence in court, and was asked to swear on the bible. I refused, and was asked to honour some book of law or something. I can't remember what it was.

It's entirely possible that this person did swear on the bible, which would confirm that he is Catholic (or at least Christian). It's also possible that the judge asked him if he is religious, and what denomination he is.

In saying that, religion should never be anywhere close to a courtroom. I'm still in favour of bringing back the stocks though.

17-09-2010 08:01PM

Terry wrote: »

I was giving evidence in court, and was asked to swear on the bible. I refused, and was asked to honour some book of law or something. I can't remember what it was.

It's entirely possible that this person did swear on the bible, which would confirm that he is Catholic (or at least Christian). It's also possible that the judge asked him if he is religious, and what denomination he is.

In saying that, religion should never be anywhere close to a courtroom. I'm still in favour of bringing back the stocks though.

You should have produced a copy of Lord of the Rings and told them that this is the only thing you believe in.

ordinary_girl · 17-09-2010 08:12PM

It seems the judge was more offended by the way the man lambasted Mayo than the way he was hassling the garda.

TheTMO · 17-09-2010 08:13PM

Few things to note :

Climbing Croagh Patrick isn't the punishment. The judge is stating that if the man does this he will give lighter punishment when it actually comes to setencing. (Probably give him a fine)

The 'say a few prayers' comment was more than likely said in jest when looking at the overall comments and suggestions by the judge. People seriously need to calm down.

deisedave · 17-09-2010 09:14PM

Ah well its better to go to mayo and be bored, than go to dublin and be robbed

Big Pussy Bonpensiero · 17-09-2010 09:39PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

yeah, thats bit is fine, no issue with it. Think its quite novel.

But adding the religious part is overstepping a boundary, religion has no place in the legal system. would the same punishment have been given if he was muslim (or other)? Could you imagine the outrage that would have caused?

how can you provide evidence of saying a prayer to God when he doesn't exist? its just unpossible

Ah ffs, will yeh stop being so sensitive and grow a pair. You're being just as disrespectful as the judge by saying God dosen't exist. Only difference in this case is his opinion on God matters.

Coriolanus · 17-09-2010 09:47PM

He should do it, dressed in traditional Arab garb and screaming Allah al Akhbar or whatever every ten steps.

With a camera crew.

RockinRolla · 17-09-2010 09:56PM

I'd rather die than go to Mayo.

mikom · 17-09-2010 09:57PM

RockinRolla wrote: »

I'd rather die than go to Mayo.

The people of Mayo said something similar about your arrival.

RockinRolla · 17-09-2010 10:00PM

mikom wrote: »

The people of Mayo said something similar about your arrival.

Are the people of Mayo actually advanced enough to speak a coherent sentence?

Man sentenced to go to Mayo...

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