GRANTED PROBATION

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 8

GRANTED PROBATION

PRISONER’S WAR RECORD EFFECT OF WOUNDS RECEIVED Following the hearing of medical evidence in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, to-day, Patrick Joseph Ryan (47), farm labourer, of Orini, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault, was admitted by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, to probation for two years with the following special conditions: —That prisoner take out, and renew as necessary, a prohibition order against himself, and that he pay the costs of the prosecution within four months. Mr J. F. Strang appeared for Ryan. Dr. St. L. H. Gribben, specialist on mental and nervous diseases, stated he had twice examined prisoner. Alcohol should be completely forbidden him. If that were done prisoner could be allowed to retain hi* freedom. ■As far as can be ascertained you have no previous criminal history," said His Honour. “I very much dislike granting probation In cases such as this." he continued, “hut you seem to have had a good war record and to have suffered seriously. But the time is not yet past, and I hope it never will be, when the service given to the country in hours of peril will be forgotten. I think your present trouble is undoubtedly due to injuries you received when giving service to your country. I think. " he added, “that, without undue risk to the public interest and having regard to the probation officer s ™ report, jt is not contrary to the publlo interest to give you probation."