Man who banged on the door of Garda’s house at 11pm fined

A man who banged on the door of a Garda’s house late at night said he did so as he wanted him to investigate a theft from his own home.

As a result of an incident at a house at Cartron Bay on July 4 th last, Rostyslav Starukh of 3 Cartron Bay was charged with entering another house in the estate as a trespasser.

Inspector Paul Kilcoyne outlined how at 11pm Gardaí received a call from a woman in a terrified state saying that an unknown man was banging on the front door and was shouting.

The woman, who was five months pregnant, had been asleep at the time with her two year old child.

When Gardaí arrived at the house they saw that the defendant appeared to be drunk and was aggressive.

He was subsequently arrested after pepper spray was used, he added.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) said the defendant knew that a Garda lived at the house.

The defendant had earlier reported to Gardaí that a sum of money had been taken from his house and he wanted the Garda who lived near him to investigate the matter.

Inspector Kilcoyne said the defendant had nine previous convictions, the last being in 2014.

The defendant told the court that keys and money had been stolen on him and he called the Gardaí who had come to his house.

He knew the other Garda who lived nearby as a “good man” who lived in the community and he went to him “with a good heart to ask him to help.”

He apologised for his actions.

The court was told that the Garda was on duty at Sligo Garda Station at the time of the incident.

Judge Kevin Kilrane said it was a matter largely fuelled by alcohol and he did not think the defendant intended harm or to cause upset to anyone.

He told the defendant however that he could not turn up at someone’s house late at night in the manner he did.

Judge Kilrane fined the defendant €300.