Three Longford men who were fined following a marquee wedding reception that breached a court order have failed to make their court-appointed payment deadline.
William Stokes, his father Patrick Stokes both of Willow Park, Longford along with Stephen Kelly, Farneyhoogan, Longford were ordered to pay €3,000 each following a wedding reception held in Longford Town at the beginning of May.
The event saw over 100 people attend a marquee set up on Council lands on the N5 Strokestown Road last month, following the court order to prevent the gathering.
At a sitting of Longford Circuit Court on May 10th, Judge Keenan Johnson ordered those involved to pay €3,000 each split between 3 local charities with all monies to be paid by the first of June.
At today's sitting of the circuit court, counsel for the family informed the judge that they had only managed to gather a combined total of €650 out of the €9,000 fine in the three weeks since the court order.
Legal representatives for the family requested the implementation of a payment plan, with the counsel referring to any money paid as 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'.
Judge Johnson refused this request and ordered an adjournment of the payment deadline until October 5th where he warned that those involved would have one more chance to clear the fines.
In the course of the proceedings, counsel for Patrick Stokes submitted a GPs letter stating that Mr. Stokes' mental health had been greatly impacted by the events, to which Judge Johnson replied 'Well he brought it on himself.
A local restaurant and catering company involved in the event was also fined €3,000, with full payment of this fine recorded by the court during today's proceedings.
