Man spared jail due to alcohol ban was caught drinking online

A man spared jailed on the condition he stay off alcohol and attend AA meetings has been remanded in custody after pictures of him drinking were posted on Facebook.

John Sinnott, who is from Coolamurray, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, appeared before Judge Barry Hickson at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Last month, he was given a two-year sentence having been convicted of harassing Martina Dunne at Davidstown, Enniscorthy, between Aug 20, 2007, and Apr 23, 2008. Judge Hickson had adjourned sentence until yesterday on condition that he attend Alcoholics Anonymous, stay off drink, and attend the probation and welfare sentences.

He had said that if the defendant adhered to those conditions he would suspend the sentence for a period of three years.

When the case was called, Sgt Tom Murphy told the court he had received pictures which had been downloaded from Facebook. He received three images purportedly taken at a celebration in Davidstown over the bank holiday weekend, showing the defendant at a celebration, and appearing to consume alcohol. He said the facts were not in dispute by the defendant.

Sgt Murphy told defence counsel, Conor O’Doherty BL, that he was not aware if the defendant had atten-ded AA meetings.

Mr O’Doherty said the defendant had attended AA on four occasions but accepted that the pictures showed him consuming alcohol since the previous court hearing.

He suggested that the court adjourn the matter to December to enable the defendant attend Aiséirí meetings on a Sunday morning and bring verification to the court that he had attended those meetings.

The judge said he would see what the defendant’s attitude was on Dec 4 next.

“I will give him time to reflect on this. When he got a break he should have taken it,” said the judge.

Judge Hickson remanded the defendant in custody to appear again before the court on Dec 4.