Clarke breached court order

Clarke breached court order

25 November 2015

A LOCAL councillor has been charged with breaching a court order.

Patrick Joseph Clarke (41), of Mill Hill Court, Castlewellan, appeared at Downpatrick Court this week for breaching a probation and community service order imposed for a fraud conviction.

Clarke represents the Slieve Croob area as an independent councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

 On June 11 this year District Judge Alan White sentenced Clarke to 100 hours of community service and ordered him to undertake probation for 12 months. 

This was following Clarke’s convictions for fraud in relation to funds belonging to Drumaroad Community Regeneration Ltd.

At Downpatrick Court this week a probation officer said that this matter had been brought to court because Clarke has not been complying with the probation and community service order.

 “There have been difficulties with this order and the level of compliance,” she said.

Defence barrister Ms Niamh McCartney asked for the matter to be adjourned for four weeks “to allow him to reengage with probation.”

The probation officer said that this was also acceptable to her. 

“He is currently reengaging,” she said.

District Judge Mr Greg McCourt adjourned the matter until the court sitting on December 10 to see if Clarke will continue to undertake his probation and community service.