Alleged dispute in Offaly car park with traffic warden lands man in court

A DISTRICT Court judge has queried whether or not a Georgian national accused of a public order offence in a car park had a car.

Tullamore District Court heard that Otari Bukia (30), with an address at Marian Hostel, High Street, Tullamore, was summonsed for an alleged breach of the peace after an alleged encounter with a traffic warden at Spollens Car Park, High Street, Tullamore on July 19 last year.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said the accused man waved a ticket aggressively at Alan Murphy in the car park on that date.

Aisling Maloney, solicitor for Mr Bukia, told Judge Andrew Cody that her client had either particularly poor English or no English whatsoever and he would need a court interpreter.

Judge Cody certified for a Georgian interpreter and granted an adjournment of the prosecution to June 25 next when either a plea will be entered or a date will be fixed for a hearing.

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If a hearing is required it will take place on October 6.

Making an enquiry about legal aid, Ms Maloney told the court that her client was not working nor was he getting any social welfare whatsoever.

Judge Cody asked if the man had a car because a ticket was being put on a car. He said the accused will have to be asked how he can afford a car if he has no income.

The judge decided to reserve the issue of legal aid.