Couple granted bail by Judge after man tenders a tenner for bail money

A married couple who appeared before Ballyshannon District Court were granted bail after handing in €10 of bail money to the court.

Terry Ward and Mary Ward, both aged 27 and of Lawn Park, Ballyshannon, were both brought before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on Friday morning, December 27.

Gardai executed bench warrants at their home on Friday morning and the pair were taken to court.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly granted bail to Terry Ward, who said he could only proffer a tenner in cash to the court. Judge O’Reilly told Mary Ward that she could thank her solicitor and the Gardai after being granted bail despite telling the court that she had no means to offer a cash lodgement. 

Terry Ward was previously charged in October 2018 with being a driver and failing to restrain a child of 3 or more in a child restraint. In February, 2020, he was issued with a €250 fine in respect of the offence, but the fine was not paid. 

Gardai told the court that there were six bench warrants previously for Terry Ward.

“Given the time of the year, he doesn’t have access to the money,” solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian said. Mr Dorrian said Terry Ward is a father-of-four and asked that his client be admitted to bail “on a short leash”.

Judge O’Reilly said the offence was six years ago and “it is time you sorted it out”.

Judge O’Reilly asked if Terry Ward had any money in his possession. Informed by Mr Dorrian that his client had a tenner, Judge O’Reilly said: “I’ll take it”.

“He is unemployed and his means extends to €10,” Mr Dorrian said.

The €10 was handed into the court as a cash lodgement for bail, which was granted on condition that the accused commit no further offence and be of good behaviour.

His case was adjourned to Castlebar District Court on January 15 and he was ordered to have the money to discharge the outstanding amount on that date.

Mary Ward was charged with the theft of €25 worth of household items from Straddle Filling Station, Clyhore, Ballyshannon, on June 14, 2022, a charge contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. She did not appear before scheduled court sittings to answer the charge. 

A Garda informed the court that Mary Ward has a total of nine previous bench warrants, including five in the last five years.

Mr Dorrian said that Mary Ward is a pregnant mother-of-four and asked that, in the circumstances, his client be granted bail. He said there will be a plea to the charge.

When informed by Judge O’Reilly that he was “not inclined to give bail without a cash lodgement”, Mr Dorrian, having consulted with his client, said she has €50 at home for shopping money.

“Six people are dependent on that and I would ask you to take a chance on her,” Mr Dorrian said. “This is the only resource that the family has.

“This whole experience has had a fairly salutary impact on her outlook.”

Gardai said they had no objections to bail.

Mary Ward told Judge O’Reilly that she did not show up in court as she was juggling her time between Castlebar and the UK at the time.

Judge O’Reilly granted bail and adjourned the matter to January 3 at Ballyshannon District Court.

Judge O’Reilly said: “I don’t normally, when someone has your bench warrant history, give bail without a cash lodgement. You have your solicitor to thank and the guards. You wouldn’t usually be walking out of here with a cash lodgement. 

“The Gardai don’t have the time or the resources to be running around after people like this.”

Legal aid was granted in the case of each accused.