Homeless man given suspended sentence

REPEATED public order offending landed 52-year-old homeless man Michael O’Brien a suspended prison sentence.

The address of the defendant was given at Wexford District Court as being the men’s hostel at Ozanam House in Wexford Town.

However, solicitor Tim Cummings revealed that his client was now sleeping rough at a disused warehouse in Enniscorthy.

The court was given details of how O’Brien had been arrested three times in an intoxicated state.

Twice the gardaí were called to Ozanam House and once to the Main Street in Wexford to deal with him.

On one of these occasions, he became aggressive when he was approached.

Sergeant Gary Rayner reported that the accused had at least nine previous convictions for being drunk in public.

O’Brien now pleaded guilty to three similar charges and one count of threatening/abusive behaviour.

‘He is an alcoholic,’ said Mr Cummings simply.

The defence solicitor was concerned that, though O’Brien had been prescribed beta blockers for a heart condition, he was not taking his medicine.

Judge John Cheatle said he was sorry that things were not going well for the defendant.

However, his past record could not be ignored and the seriousness of his behaviour was marked with a two months sentence, which was suspended.