A man was acquitted of breaching a non-molestation order at Fermanagh Magistrates Court this week after the District Judge stated that he believed the defendant’s version of events, which included the need to get to public toilets as quickly as possible to prevent an “embarrassing” situation.

43 year old Ryan Scott, of Lisnarick Road Lisnarick, admitted to driving his car along Mill Street, a street he is prohibited from entering due to a non – molestation order, however he stated that a medical condition had required him to take this route so he could access the public toilets is as short a time as possible.

Medical evidence was provided to the court that detailed the defendant’s condition, which brings about the onset of stomach cramps, bouts of diarreha and the passing of blood.

The court heard that Scott had left a friend’s house in Willowdale Enniskillen and was making his way to Asda to do some shopping before going on to his then home in Lisbellaw.

It was revealed that upon feeling stomach cramps Scott had decided to travel via Mill Street to the public toilets located on Head Street.

“I had to get to the toilet. I knew what would happen and it can be very embarrassing,” Scott stated when giving evidence.

The court heard that when travelling along Mill Street Scott’s daughter saw him. When asked by defending barrister, Ciaran Roddy, how he had driven along the street Scott stated:

“I noticed my daughter on her bike but I was driving with a degree of urgency and did not alter my speed at all.”

The prosecution put it to the defendant that he did indeed slow down when driving past his daughter, as she claimed in her statement, and then sped up. Scott denied this.

The prosecution also argued that there were alternative routes that he could have taken to the public toilets.

Scott accepted this but stated:

“These all would have involved going through traffic lights and that meant I could have been caught up. I needed to get to the toilet as quickly as possible.”

In conclusion the prosecution argued that the defendant “had deliberately driven down Mill Street and that you drove slowly passed your ex partners house before speeding up after being seen by your daughter.”

Scott refuted those claims and said he had missed several functions in the Enniskillen hotel and a sports day for his children as he had wrongly thought they were both located on Mill Street.

In passing judgement on the case, District Judge Michael Ranahan acquitted the accused saying he believed his version of events and also commenting that children can get confused about events.