A District Court Judge recently told a plumber charged with damaging an electrical box at Waterford Garda Station that “if he was an electrician, he could have repaired it.”
Sean Dalton (27) of 45 McDonagh Road, Kingsmeadow, Waterford, appeared before Judge John Cheatle at a sitting of Waterford District Court this month, charged with damaging property, contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991, and being intoxicated in public, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. This related to an incident that occurred at Waterford Garda Station at the beginning of last year.
Inspector Joe O’Neill told the court that on 28 February 2025, a man who was identified as the accused was arrested for his own safety on the Cork Road, Waterford, after he was found to be intoxicated. The Inspector said that when the accused had been brought to the Garda Station, he “intentionally” broke an electrical box that was mounted to the wall. It was stated that the value of the box was €100.
Acting for the accused, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that his client was “co-operative” with Gardaí following the incident.
Mr. Cunningham highlighted that the accused has underlying mental health issues, and that he is a qualified plumber with nothing else pending before the courts.
The solicitor presented €100 to the court that the accused had brought with him as compensation for the damaged box.
Speaking about the damaged box, Judge Cheatle said: “If he was an electrician, he could have repaired it.”
The compensation was paid over.
Meanwhile, the Judge invited the accused to make a €50 donation to the court poor box.
The case was struck out after the accused paid the donation.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Robyn Power
