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A father of three who had legal aid withdrawn after he went on holidays instead of appearing in court was on his first family vacation in seven years, a judge has been told.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

The court heard Mr Harty had gone on a foreign holiday two days after he successfully applied for free legal aid.

He is charged with possession of a knife and three screwdrivers with the intention of using them in the commission of a crime at High Rd, Thomondgate, Limerick, on May 9 last.

Judge O’Kelly questioned how someone who was granted free legal aid due to his low weekly income was able to go on holidays. He revoked the free legal aid and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr Harty.

Yesterday the court heard from defence solicitor Sarah Ryan that Mr Harty had gone on holiday to Wales with his partner and three children “for the first time in the seven years they have been together”. She said her client had returned from his holiday four days early having learning of the arrest warrant and the court’s position.

Judge O’Kelly questioned why the accused sought to go on “his only family vacation” on the same date as his court appearance.

Ms Ryan said that Mr Harty’s partner had organised the holiday last February and paid for it by weekly instalments, adding that “the ‘woman of the house’ made those arrangements in a way that most mothers have done throughout the generations”.

Mr Harty could not remember the date of the holiday when the matter was first before the court, according to his solicitor.

Ms Ryan added that the family returned from the trip after just four days “as the good had gone out of the holiday”.

After hearing the bench warrant was executed by arrangement and that the defence was seeking an adjournment, Judge O’Kelly remanded Mr Harty on his own bail of €500 until Jul 31 next.