Legal aid man missed court to go on first holiday in seven years

A father of three who had legal aid withdrawn after he went on holidays instead of appearing in court was on his first family vacation in seven years, a judge has been told.

William Harty, aged 25, of Clonmacken Court, Clonmacken Rd, Limerick, had legal aid revoked earlier this month after he failed to appear in court because he was on holidays abroad.

At Limerick District Court, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the State was under enormous expense to provide persons with legal aid, adding “it is not intended to facilitate people going on foreign holidays”.