Man was relieving himself, Judge told

A 36 year old Mullingar man appeared at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Tuesday of last week charged with trespassing on the grounds of a business in the town.Darren McKevitt, with an address at 164 D'Alton Park, Mullingar, pleaded not guilty to the charge.Giving evidence for the prosecution, Garda Charles Christie said that during the early hours of September 30, 2009, he was on mobile patrol when he observed a figure standing behind a number of vans parked on the grounds of Mullingar Autos, Dublin Road, Mullingar.While Garda Christie approached, he said that the individual ran across the forecourt, jumped across a gate and ran in the direction of Springfield Cottages.The garda gave chase, and found the suspect "lying on his back on the ground" at a house. The man identified himself as Darren McKevitt.Garda Christie said that Mr. McKevitt told him he had been going to the toilet.The defendant took the stand. "When you were seen on the premises that night Mr. McKevitt, what were you doing?" his solicitor, Robert Marren asked.Mr. McKevitt said that he was walking home, when he jumped over the railings at Mullingar Autos to go behind a van, in order to go to the toilet."I heard a car, and I froze. I heard someone getting out of the car and I just ran," he said, stating to Garda Inspector Jarlath Folan that he had not been drinking on the night in question."Did you feel that your presence on the premises was appropriate?" Inspector Folan asked.Mr. McKevitt replied that he was merely relieving himself, and panicked, before running away."If he was innocently there why would he feel the need to run?" Judge Aeneas McCarthy said, indicating that he had decided to convict.Mr. Marren said that his client, a father of two children, is a plasterer who is currently out of work.Acknowledging that Mr. McKevitt had numerous previous convictions to his name, Mr. Marren asked the judge to take into account the fact that the majority of these were recorded when his client was much younger."He has stayed out trouble as he got older, Judge, so I would ask that you consider putting this on the lighter end of the scale," he said.Judge McCarthy fined Mr. McKevitt €300.