Councillor’s burglary charge is ped after non appearance

Councillor’s burglary charge is ped after non appearance

13 January 2016

A LOCAL councillor has had a charge of burglary against him withdrawn.

Patrick Clarke (41) was due to contest the charge of burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at Downpatrick Court on Thursday.

However, the charge was dismissed when a householder, who is also a neighbour, did not appear and the prosecution offered no evidence.

Clarke, of Mill Hill Court, Castlewellan, had already pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage relating to the same incident. This involved him carrying a hammer and damaging a mug.

Sentencing on all matters facing the independent councillor for the Slieve Croob area on Newry Mourne and Down District Council was adjourned until March 24.

Back in June last year Clarke was given 100 hours’ community service and a 12-month probation order after he admitted 13 counts of fraud when he was chairman of Drumaroad Community Association in 2010.

Because Clarke had not been engaging with the Probation Service the matter was brought before the court in December.

At that hearing a defence barrister said he had missed some of his probation appointments as a result of medical issues. 

In December Clarke was also due to be sentenced on another charge of fraud committed against Dundrum Village Association.

On this occasion Clarke took a community grant cheque for £750 on September 22 last year from the Housing Executive and put it into his own bank account.

All matters were adjourned to Thursday’s hearing to allow Clarke time to complete his community service requirements and for an updated pre-sentence report to be prepared about him.

However, the breach of probation charge was adjourned again to March 24 and sentencing on the fraud charge was also deferred to this date.

At Thursday’s hearing District Judge Greg McCourt said he still had some concerns about Clarke’s engagement with the Probation Service, but his barrister pointed out that his normal appointment days had clashed with Christmas and New Year.

The judge said he wanted to hear of progress being made over a longer period, and urged Clarke to “take whatever help is available”.