Limerick man facing arrest after skipping court date for holiday in Tenerife

A Limerick man is facing arrest after he skipped a court sitting to go on holiday in Tenerife.

Cathal Kelly, aged 31, of Water Street, Bruree was due to appear before Limerick District Court in Kilmallock on Friday, September 26.

However, when his case was called at 11.05am, Judge Patricia Harney was told he was not present in court as he was abroad on holiday.

Seeking an adjournment of the case, barrister Nicholas Hall said his client "was on holiday in Tenerife" but that he is due back this week.

Judge Patricia Harney said she took a "dim view" of the defendant's attitude and she commented it was “a bit unfortunate” that Mr Kelly was spending his money on a holiday.

She refused the request for an adjournment and issued a bench warrant for Mr Kelly’s arrest.

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Mr Kelly is before the courts for an offence of being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, arising from an incident at Main Street, Bruree on June 5, 2024.

At a previous court sitting, he admitted committing the offence and last Friday, Judge Harney noted he has since been deemed unsuitable to carry out community service.

She also noted that a separate bench warrant for the defendant's arrest was executed by Gardaí over the summer.