Tramore man tells judge he is 'exceptionally busy' and not being paid to be in court

A Tramore man has told Waterford District Court he is too busy to be in court.

Donnacha O Maidin (49), of 1 Le Palais Apartments, Tramore, was before the court on two counts of theft in June and July this year, two counts of being intoxicated in a public place, and one count of threatening and abusive behaviour on two days in December 2024.

The defendant, who was representing himself, said he was “not pleading guilty but not pleading innocent either”. 

He told the court that he was an “exceptionally busy man” and, unlike the court and its officers, he was not being paid to be there.

He said he had prepared for his appearance on this day and was upset that his case would not be heard.

“I will be very insulted if I can’t have my grievances heard,” said the defendant.

The defendant’s case was only listed for mention and to make progress, and a date for the hearing had not yet been set.

Judge Kevin Staunton told the defendant that the list was too busy to deal with his case in full, and it would have to be put back to another date.

The defendant said that on the date the judge had given him, he would be “too busy”, to which the judge replied that they could put it into a date next month, “no problem”. 

Judge Staunton advised the defendant to hire a solicitor for his next sitting to represent his interests.

The defendant said that he didn’t have faith in the profession, and he believed they were there to make “easy money”. 

As Mr O Maidin was escorted from the court, he said: “Wait until I am qualified.”