Solicitor: ‘Theft not very serious — in Romania’

Theft was “not a very serious matter — in Romania”, a defence solicitor claimed at a district court in Kerry yesterday during an application to seek bail for his 25-year-old client.

Daniel Victor Marcu of Fountain Court, Ballinorig, Tralee, had appeared in custody at Tralee District Court on foot of a bench warrant, issued for not turning up in a Limerick court previously.

Garda Kevin Lynch outlined at Tralee District Court the State’s objections to bail. With no Romanian interpreter present, solicitor Pat Mann said his client’s English was “not too good” , but Garda Lynch said it was “not too bad”.

Asked to explain his failure to turn up in court previously, Marcu said: “Same reason, as today, like.”

He claimed there had been confusion between himself and his solicitor. Asked by Mr Mann if he would turn up in future, the accused replied: “I promise.”

Judge James O’Connor asked the nature of the charge and was told it was “theft”. Mr Mann, pressing for his client’s release, said: “It’s not a very serious matter — in Romania.” At that, the court erupted in laughter.

The judge remanded Marcu in custody to appear in court in Limerick tomorrow. He is charged with the theft of an IPhone 4 at Meteor Mobiles Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick, on February 9, 2013.