Comic McSavage faces illegal trading charge

COMEDIAN Dave McSavage was yesterday remanded on continuing bail on a charge of illegal street trading.

Before Dublin District Court under his real name, David Andrews, the 42-year-old Dubliner was given a date for the hearing of the charge against him which arose out of his arrest on Grafton Street on December 15.

A son of former Foreign Affairs Minister David Andrews he was arrested for allegedly selling copies of DVDs of one of his theatre performances without a casual trading licence.

Garda Gavin O’Reilly told the court following his arrest and charge on December 15, he made no reply after caution.

DPP’s directions on what court the case should be tried in had not been obtained.

When Judge James Scally asked him if a date in the next couple of weeks would be suitable for him to come back to court, he replied that he was “going on holidays for a while” but he would be back next month.

Judge Scally remanded him on continuing station bail to appear again on February 21. Mr McSavage said he did not wish to apply for free legal aid.

Leaving the court with a young woman who had accompanied him, Mr McSavage posed for photographers and held his arm aloft saying: “Freedom”.