By Joe McCabe

PETER Pettigrew Sr, 51, a painter, of Corkisbane, Corduff, Carrickmacross  was given a 3 months jail sentence suspended for  12 months at Carrickmacross District Court this week. He was also banned from driving for six years. Judge John Lindsay heard that the defendant had been apprehended by Garda Mark Gaynor, Monaghan, driving a car in a car park at Mullinarry, Carrickmacross on the night of December 30 2007 and whilst already serving a driving ban.

Solicitor for the defendant, Mr Gerry Jones, pleading, said that his client had only driven a short distance in the car park and was of the impression that he was not in a public place and therefore not breaking the law. Mr Jones: “In his ignorance he thought he was not in a public place and I ask you, judge, not to send Mr Pettigrew to jail.”  Judge Lindsay ruled as stated.

Meanwhile,  Carrickmacross  District Court heard this week how Peter

Pettigrew Jr , 21, also of Corkishbane, Corduff, Carrickmacross, a local plumber, lifted a baton with which he had earlier been threthened and struck another man with it on New Year’s Eve last.

Superintendent Karl Heller, Carrickmacross told Carrick District Court this week that this defendant had been observed by gardai striking another man with the baton at Main Street in Carrick at 3.20am. Solicitor for the defendant, Mr Gerry Jones, said that his client had been walking up the Main Street after leaving a New Year’s party when he was set upon and knocked to the ground. Mr Jones said that his client had struck the injured party with the baton in retaliation. “It was not his own baton and my client is a very decent young man with an unblemished record ” stressed Mr Jones. Suuperintent Karl Heller concurred with Mr Jones when he stated that the defendant had not instigated the incident. Judge John Lindsay ordered the defendant to pay €500 to Carrickmacross Cancer Society by April 28th otherwise a fine of €600 and a conviction will be imposed on the defendant.