A trainee jockey who was driving from Co Monaghan to the Galway Races without proper car insurance was given “a chance” to avoid a conviction by a District Court judge yesterday after he offered to make a donation to a Co Donegal GAA project.
Judge Seán MacBride dismissed the prosecution under the Probation Act at Carrickmacross Court, Co Monaghan, against Jonathan Cresswell (23) of Chestnut Manor, Caledon, Co Tyrone.
Mr Cresswell undertook, through defence lawyer Gerry Jones, to donate €300 to the new Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence.
Judge MacBride queried Mr Cresswell on how the horse he was riding at Galway had fared in the race, but was informed it had not won.
Dismissing the prosecution, the judge said he would give the young trainee jockey “a chance” on this occasion, and wished him “every success in the future”.