A6

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

On the front page of Friday's Miramichi Leader we ran what could be considered a "good news" court story.

Enlarge Photo

It's not very often that you see or hear these type of stories in a courtroom.

That story, written by court reporter Laura MacInnis, details Ryan Martin's diligence in paying off a restitution order of almost $24,000. The money was defrauded from the Canada Student Loan program.

It took him 14 years but the married father did it.

And he did it with determination and dedication.

Many people would have given up. And in all likelihood, many have.

Every day in our court system, people are ordered to pay fines, restitution orders and victim fine surcharges. While some do pay, others don't. Time and time again, over and over, they are back in front of the judge asking for more time to pay it.

While some do have legitimate reasons why they cannot pay it at the time, others may not. They are just putting off the inevitable. When it comes right down to it, you either pay or you end up in jail. But Ryan Martin, 42, did not want that to happen. He wanted to make it right. He wanted to honour the memory of his parents.

So month after month, year after year, Martin showed up at the provincial court office, first at the old courthouse then down the street at the new location, to make his payment. Apparently there is a stack of paperwork in that office, a record of the man's perseverance.

On top of that, every three years Martin had to reappear in court on a charge of failing to pay the restitution and a new probation order had to be created. Other than that charge, his record was clean.

One mistake, a momentous one at that, but one he obviously learned a lesson from.

Judge Fred Ferguson probably said it best when commending Martin for his efforts and telling him how proud he was.

"It is a unique experience to see a man apply himself to fix his wrongs," said the judge. "It gives me great pleasure to close this file. You are a credit to your community."

Often times court reporting is a difficult task. Day after day reporters watch and file reports on appearances, bail hearings and trials. Murders, violent attacks, break and enters, theft, drunk drivers. The list goes on and on.

Sometimes reporters hear sad stories in the courtroom. People with serious addictions to a variety of drugs having their lives presented in detail. People with degrees, good jobs, a family, financial responsibilities, throwing it all away for that next fix.

But Martin did not choose that path and his story has a happy ending. Both he and his wife were on cloud nine after that final court appearance. Diane was so proud of her husband and his efforts she wished her children could have been there to see it.

The husband and father was quick to credit them with helping him accomplish his goal.

And the man spoke spoke frankly of his situation as a young man. By the age of 13 he had lost his parents and a brother. His sister took on the daunting task of raising him.

"I tried hard in school, but it was hard coming home to an empty house with no one to guide me," he said. "But I always promised my father, no matter what, I would stay in school."

Judge Ferguson is right. Kyle Martin is a credit to his community, but more so he is a credit to himself.

And he is a credit to all of us in showing that perseverance and persistence can pay off and there is light at the end of the tunnel.