Rugby referee who ‘lost control of life’ was living in college cupboard

A RUGBY referee with a promising career ended up secretly living in a cupboard in UCD after his relationship broke down and he “lost control of his life”, a court heard.

Paul Karugendo (29) had nowhere else to live when he stole a swipe card and began sleeping in a storage cupboard at the university. He was arrested when staff caught him and he appeared in court on trespassing and theft charges.

Judge Michael Walsh adjourned his case for a probation report to be produced after hearing that Karugendo was back working as a referee for Leinster Rugby and had got his life back on track. The accused, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to trespassing, stealing a swipe card and handling a stolen master key at the UCD Science building on March 5.

He also admitted trespassing on January 28, February 22 and a date unknown. Garda Sergeant Gail Smith told Dublin District Court that Karugendo made full admissions he had trespassed on three occasions.

He had no previous convictions and had been “totally co-operative” with the investigating garda, the court was told.

Karugendo had been living in one of the storage cupboards at the university, his solicitor Tracy Horan said. The accused’s relationship with his partner had broken down and he had nowhere else to live, she added.

“It was a most difficult time for him, and he lost control of his life,” she said.

The defendant was remanded on continuing bail to appear on November 7.