‘All picture, no sound’ in TV licence court case

It’s ‘all picture, no sound’ for one Co Clare man who shares his home with his separated wife but has no access to the house TV.

The unusual domestic arrangements of Liam McKee and his separated spouse were outlined at Ennis District Court yesterday where Mr McKee was being prosecuted by An Post for not having a €160 licence for the TV at his home at 41 Cronan Gardens, Shannon, on January 31 this year.

Mr McKee was one of 49 people listed for prosecution for having no TV licence in court yesterday and State solicitor, Martin Linnane, who was prosecuting him for unlawfully having a TV with no licence remarked that “it is very unfair” that Mr McKee doesn’t have access to the home TV.

Judge Patrick Durcan quipped: “He probably goes down to the pub and watches the TV and has a few pints there.”

Solicitor for Mr McKee, Daragh Hassett explained that Mr McKee is a separated man, but continues to share a home with his wife and doesn’t have access to the house TV.

After Judge Durban put the scenario to the An Post inspector, the inspector said “that is the first time I ever came across that one”.

The inspector said that Mr McKee — who wasn’t in court — told him that the licence situation would be sorted out when he called to his home last January.

After Judge Durcan mis-understood from the An Post inspector that Mr McKee had outlined his domestic arrangements when he called to his door, Judge Durcan told Mr Linnane that he would strike out the prosecution. Judge Durcan said: “I can understand that type of situation.”

However, the inspector said that wasn’t the case and Mr McKee only “told me that he would fix it up” and didn’t mention that he didn’t have access to the TV.

Judge Durcan said: “I misunderstood you. I think Mr Hassett, we will have to hear from Mr McKee in court, but my view is if the situation is as outlined, it probably is a defence.”

Mr Hassett told the court that Mr McKee also suffers from “chronic back problems”.

Judge Durcan adjourned the case to Ennis District Court to December 12 when Mr McKee will give sworn evidence in the case.

People who don’t pay their TV licences faces fines of up to €1,000 for a first offence and for a 2nd conviction a person can be fined up to €2,000.