Laughing Stock

A candidate in the local elections for the Slane Electoral Area of Meath County Council was arrested outside a polling station in his home area of Stamullen on polling day and taken before Drogheda Court to face charges dating from 2001.

The case against James Carey (26) of Preston Hill, Stamullen, was called at the court on Friday morning.

A medical certificate was presented to explain his absence but Judge Flann Brennan said that he was not satisfied with the certificate and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Just after 3pm, Carey was brought into court by Gardai. He stood as an independent in the Meath County Council elections last Friday, polling 734 first preferences before being eliminated on the seventh count in the Slane Electoral Area.

Last month he was arrested and brought before the court at which time the case was adjourned until last Friday. He is accused of assaulting two people, causing them harm; dangerous driving, unauthorised possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm. The offences are alleged to have happened at Gormanston or Stamullen in February 2001.

. . .

Garda Inspector Pat Marry said he would like to refute any allegation that Carey’s arrest had been contrived. He said the medical certificate presented had shown “total contempt” for the court. The certificate was for one day only.

The accused said that if his arrest had not been contrived, why had he so openly canvassed his home area for the last year.

He had knocked on 10,000 doors. “I’m the chairperson of the Stamullen Comunity Alert Committee which was organised with Sergeant Dooley. In God’s name, I couldn’t be more visible. Why the timing? I’m not refuting this charge, I’m refuting the timing. It is a laughing stock.”

The rest is here.