An American tourist has avoided a conviction after causing over €45,000 worth of criminal damage in one day in Kenmare.
Judge David Waters gave 59-year-old Rodney Menolascina of SW McKinley Street, Gresham, Oregon, USA, the benefit of the Probation Act after he pleaded guilty to four charges.
The court heard Mr Menolascina was not intoxicated, nor was there any sign of a medical incident, when he caused the damage in several premises in Kenmare.
Mr Menolascina admitted to four counts of criminal damage, all of which occurred in Kenmare on Sunday May 10th.
He caused almost €28,000 worth of damage in Quills Woollen Market on High Street, by damaging 28 items of clothing.
He also caused damage in the Lansdowne Hotel and Foley’s Craft Shop the same day, and caused around €2,500 worth of damage to a car.
Killarney District Court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions directed Mr Menolascina could be prosecuted by summary in the district court on a plea of guilty only.
Mr Menolascina pleaded guilty to all charges, and his solicitor Brendan Ahern told the court he had a cheque for over €50,600 to compensate all the injured parties in the case.
Judge David Waters asked if Mr Ahern could enlighten him on why a 59-year-old married retiree with no previous convictions would do this.
Mr Ahern said it was confirmed there was no intoxicants involved, nor was there any history of medical issues.
He said his client recently came off medication, but he wasn’t even sure if this would be a side effect.
Mr Ahern said his client accepts he needs to be medically assessed when he returns to the United States.
He said all the charges were criminal damage, and the full amount has now been repaid.
Judge David Waters said the matter is serious, but the corollary was that it was a major undertaking for Mr Menolascina to raise the funds to pay victims back so timely.
He said he would allow Mr Menolascina to benefit from the Probation Act and avoid a conviction.
Judge Waters said this was because he’s a 59-year-old man with no previous convictions here or in the US, he made an early guilty plea, and paid full recompense to the victims.
Mr Menolascina had his passport returned, and he is booked on a flight to return to the US tomorrow.
