Man who squatted in vacant apartment above shop is jailed

A MAN who stayed in a vacant apartment above an Enniscorthy shop was one of a group who left the owner with a repair bill for hundreds of euro.

Mark Carolan of no fixed address admitted trespassing in the flat over Gadget Technology in Templeshannon.

The 30-year-old also pleaded guilty to a public order charge arising from his misbehaviour after he was arrested on June 23.

The illegal squat came to light in the early hours of May 8 when the gardaí received a call from the proprietor of Gadget Technology.He had heard noises overhead, so officers made their way upstairs and discovered cigarette butts on the floor. A carpet, doors, wardrobe and windows had all been damaged.

Carolan was on the premises, telling the gardaí that he had been squatting as he was homeless.

Solicitor Lana Doherty stressed that her client was not the only person living in the apartment. She reckoned that the defendant was there for twelve nights while waiting for somewhere more permanent to live.

Carolan was also charged in connection with a public order incident which arose on the night of June 23.

He was present as gardaí investigated a road traffic incident and he did not comply when requested to leave the scene. He became abusive and had to be handcuffed as he was arrested and brought to the barracks in Enniscorthy. There he continued screaming abuse for hours while in custody.

Ms Doherty said that the accused had become homeless after the death of his mother.He had no clear memories of his threatening/abusive behaviour, for which he offered an apology.

Judge Brian O’Shea noted that the man before him already had a significant criminal record.

A four month jail sentence was handed down for burglary of the apartment with three months consecutive for the public order matter.

The seven months total was reduced to five with the suspension of the final two months.