Man writes essay on court sittings as part of appeal

A young man appealing a drugs conviction returned to court with a 200-word essay on his observations from attending four of his local district court sittings.

Judge Gerard O’Brien, who set the special assignment for appellant Raymond Watkins, aged 22, of Cathedral Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, said yesterday after reading the young man’s essay: “I am very impressed with his observations on what he saw in court.”

The judge said it was not to be taken as a precedent but he would give the accused the benefit of a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act.