A Newtownbutler motorist who usually carpooled with a number of friends but who found herself without a lift one day and drove herself to work without supervision has appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on motoring related charges.
Twenty-six year old Joanne Fox from Campbell Park in Newtownbutler was detected driving without displaying 'L' plates and driving without supervision on 18th December 2007.
On the date in question the defendant was stopped driving along the Clones Road, Newtownbutler.
The court heard the defendant was a qualified teacher who worked as a 'locum' teacher and who usually shared a lift to work with a number of friends. However, this morning the defendant had no-one to share a lift with and took a chance to drive herself to work.
The court heard the defendant would normally have displayed 'L' plates and would normally drive accompanied by a qualified driver.
For driving without supervision Resident Magistrate Liam McNally imposed a fine of £50 and for driving without displaying 'L' plates she was fined £50 and had three penalty points endorsed on her licence.
Man refused to pay taxi fare
Failing to pay a taxi fare, and then becoming abusive when challenged about the incident by police has led to an appearance before Fermanagh Magistrates Court for sixty-two year old Robert Hicks, from Elliott Place in Enniskillen.
The court heard that on 8th March this year police received a report from a taxi driver that a male had refused to pay an £8 fare.
Police went to the defendant's address and found him extremely intoxicated. When he failed to calm down he was arrested for disorderly behaviour.
Defending, Bernard Corrigan said it was a shame that his client had reached the age of 62 years only to come before the court. Mr Corrigan said when police called things got out of hand. He also said the defendant paid the fare the following day. Sentencing, Resident Magistrate Liam McNally gave credit for the fact the defendant paid the fare, belatedly. For not paying he gave a two year conditional discharge while for disorderly behaviour the defendant was fined £150.
Female bound over to keep the peace after assault
An Enniskillen woman who was involved in an assault on another female in an Enniskillen public house, has been bound over to keep the peace for two years and ordered to pay £150 compensation to her victim.
Before Fermanagh Magistrates Court was twenty-four year old Nicola Christine Kilduff from Woodview in the town. The court heard that on 8th December last year police received a complaint from Karen Nixon that she had been assaulted by the defendant in Wetherspoons in Enniskillen. When questioned the defendant admitted hitting the injured party about the head.
Defending, Garry Smyth explained this was his client's first appearance before the courts and this was an experience she wasn't keen on repeating.
Mr Smyth said the parties had been socialising together during the day, through a mutual friend. A fall out occurred later in the evening and the defendant felt she had been verbally abused by the injured party. The defendant accepts she over-reacted.
also ordered her to pay compensation to the injured party.
