nud1e
Registered user
see http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98737
Chastened and poorer by £20 each, our dejected double duo sped south.
Their minds were large on their situation and the Sergeant’s warning that if they failed to attend court, they would forfeit their bail and that a bench warrant for their arrest would be issued against them.
If they convicted what would be the sentence?
What would it mean of their insurance?
Weeks past, as they still do.
Then the dreaded summons arrived. Hopes were dashed that it would all fade away (shades of the Who), but reality had rudely intruded.
Professional representation was required to beat this bum rap.
Only to be costed and rejected – we didn’t want to buy a solicitor thank you, just rent him for a court appearance.
We’ll defend ourselves.
Yes, you heard right, we decided to defend ourselves. Innocents need not fear the courts.
Would we come to regret out cheapness?
More weeks past, and the quacking (that should have been quaking) quartet completed the 4 S’s and made the way to court in Dundalk, by car.
(the 4 S – suit, shirt and tie, shiny shoes and a bit of internal cleaning)
Now a court is a great informing bit of entertainment, if you’re only a spectator and not one of the accused.
Speeding, guilty, £5, then another guilty speeder and another fiver and another and on and on ………………………………until
Until a solicitor stands up to represent an absent, errant Northern driver charged with dangerous driving and speeding. His client is unable to attend, the justice is displeased, the solicitor apologises and states that his client wishes to plead guilty, the justice is displeased, again the solicitor apologies on his client’s behalf. The justice hears the evidence of cars forced to take evasive action to avoid the speeding sales rep and of the high speed chase to stop and detain him before the border crossing. The justice considers.
A twelve month ban and a £250 fine.
Things are looking serious.
Perhaps we should have got a solicitor.
Too late now.
Another £5, and another and then a no show from the wee North and an unhappy justice and a bench warrant issued – are you trying to get us hung, you git, why didn’t you turn up and then the sales rep’s solicitor is on his feet and asking “What do the 12 month ban means for his client?” It means that he is banned from driving in the Republic and that his license will be endorsed accordingly. The authorities in the North will be asked to obtain his license and have it sent South for the endorsement.
“My client needs to drive in the Republic for his job” said the useless solicitor. “Your client can appeal.” “Next case, please.”
And on and on and on, and then, and were did the time go, and then we are on.
We entered the dock. O, pity the poor felon. “Low lie the fields of Athenry …………….”
The charge is read, and how do we plea? “Not Guilty!” and so it begins.
Garda R gives his evidence and stated that they had had to travel at 90mph to catch us. The first of our stalwart band is asked if he wishes to cross examine the witness. And so it begins.
Now we had studied the summons, measured distances, recalled the road conditions, the traffic, the weather and these were the questions that we asked our captor.
“What was the distance from the point where first you saw us to point where you stopped us?”
He didn’t know.
We had measured it at 2 miles, would he agree that this was correct?
He thought this could be right.
Yet if he had managed to join traffic and caught us in this distance, what speed could we have been travelling at?
He could not say but we had been travelling very fast when we had passed the crossroads.
What were the road conditions, wet or dry?
What was the traffic like?
Wasn’t this the day that a Northern team was playing in Croke Park and a lot of traffic going south?
More questions and more vague, inconclusive answers.
Now the other Garda, and another of the misused bikers began to ask his questions.
“As we made our way, did you observe that any other road user had to take any action to avoid us?”
“No.”
“Were we a danger on the road to anyone other that ourselves?”
Now, during our questioning, it might have been noted that the justice seemed to have found something on his desk that required his attention, noted that his shoulders seemed to be rising and falling in a rhythmic manner. Now, he raised his head and struck the bench with his gavel.
With a smile on his lips, he pronounced “While there may have been a case to answer under another section of the Act, under the section which you are charged, I find you not guilty. Case dismissed.”
Justice prevailed, the not so innocent had been set free. Was it luck, legal expertise or Garda incompetence?
Chastened and poorer by £20 each, our dejected double duo sped south.
Their minds were large on their situation and the Sergeant’s warning that if they failed to attend court, they would forfeit their bail and that a bench warrant for their arrest would be issued against them.
If they convicted what would be the sentence?
What would it mean of their insurance?
Weeks past, as they still do.
Then the dreaded summons arrived. Hopes were dashed that it would all fade away (shades of the Who), but reality had rudely intruded.
Professional representation was required to beat this bum rap.
Only to be costed and rejected – we didn’t want to buy a solicitor thank you, just rent him for a court appearance.
We’ll defend ourselves.
Yes, you heard right, we decided to defend ourselves. Innocents need not fear the courts.
Would we come to regret out cheapness?
More weeks past, and the quacking (that should have been quaking) quartet completed the 4 S’s and made the way to court in Dundalk, by car.
(the 4 S – suit, shirt and tie, shiny shoes and a bit of internal cleaning)
Now a court is a great informing bit of entertainment, if you’re only a spectator and not one of the accused.
Speeding, guilty, £5, then another guilty speeder and another fiver and another and on and on ………………………………until
Until a solicitor stands up to represent an absent, errant Northern driver charged with dangerous driving and speeding. His client is unable to attend, the justice is displeased, the solicitor apologises and states that his client wishes to plead guilty, the justice is displeased, again the solicitor apologies on his client’s behalf. The justice hears the evidence of cars forced to take evasive action to avoid the speeding sales rep and of the high speed chase to stop and detain him before the border crossing. The justice considers.
A twelve month ban and a £250 fine.
Things are looking serious.
Perhaps we should have got a solicitor.
Too late now.
Another £5, and another and then a no show from the wee North and an unhappy justice and a bench warrant issued – are you trying to get us hung, you git, why didn’t you turn up and then the sales rep’s solicitor is on his feet and asking “What do the 12 month ban means for his client?” It means that he is banned from driving in the Republic and that his license will be endorsed accordingly. The authorities in the North will be asked to obtain his license and have it sent South for the endorsement.
“My client needs to drive in the Republic for his job” said the useless solicitor. “Your client can appeal.” “Next case, please.”
And on and on and on, and then, and were did the time go, and then we are on.
We entered the dock. O, pity the poor felon. “Low lie the fields of Athenry …………….”
The charge is read, and how do we plea? “Not Guilty!” and so it begins.
Garda R gives his evidence and stated that they had had to travel at 90mph to catch us. The first of our stalwart band is asked if he wishes to cross examine the witness. And so it begins.
Now we had studied the summons, measured distances, recalled the road conditions, the traffic, the weather and these were the questions that we asked our captor.
“What was the distance from the point where first you saw us to point where you stopped us?”
He didn’t know.
We had measured it at 2 miles, would he agree that this was correct?
He thought this could be right.
Yet if he had managed to join traffic and caught us in this distance, what speed could we have been travelling at?
He could not say but we had been travelling very fast when we had passed the crossroads.
What were the road conditions, wet or dry?
What was the traffic like?
Wasn’t this the day that a Northern team was playing in Croke Park and a lot of traffic going south?
More questions and more vague, inconclusive answers.
Now the other Garda, and another of the misused bikers began to ask his questions.
“As we made our way, did you observe that any other road user had to take any action to avoid us?”
“No.”
“Were we a danger on the road to anyone other that ourselves?”
Now, during our questioning, it might have been noted that the justice seemed to have found something on his desk that required his attention, noted that his shoulders seemed to be rising and falling in a rhythmic manner. Now, he raised his head and struck the bench with his gavel.
With a smile on his lips, he pronounced “While there may have been a case to answer under another section of the Act, under the section which you are charged, I find you not guilty. Case dismissed.”
Justice prevailed, the not so innocent had been set free. Was it luck, legal expertise or Garda incompetence?
)
