Ex-garda landlord ripped shower out and cut power off in campaign of harassment

Tenant ‘sleepless and unable to have a peaceful life’

A landlord tore a shower from a bathroom wall and cut off the electricity while the tenant was in the flat during a nine-month campaign of harassment.

Former garda Kevin Galvin (50) was in a dispute over rent payment when he “crossed the line and took the law into his own hands”, a court heard.

The father of six had his case adjourned when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

Galvin, of Furry Park Road, Killester, pleaded guilty to harassing Carlos Pintos at the apartment at Wood Lane, Stoneybatter, Dublin, on dates between September 2021 and June 2022.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Judge Mark O’Connell there were issues over the payment of rent when the victim arrived home a number of times to find the door of the apartment open.

He contacted Galvin and told him not to enter the flat without his permission.

In December 2021 the hot water stopped working and in March 2022 Galvin entered the property while the victim was there and cut off the electricity.

On another date that month, Galvin again entered the flat while Mr Pintos was there, “tore the shower off the wall” and took down the curtains.

In June that year, Mr Pintos was at work when he got a message from Galvin who said he was “in the process of installing CCTV in the flat and would be able to watch him”.

In victim-impact evidence, Mr Pintos said the accused would “violently burst into the place” and he was not able to stop him.

The effect on him had been “terrible” and he had not been able to “sleep, rest or have a quiet life”.

He said he had spent months without electricity and had to iron shirts at work. There was never any remorse or apology, he said.

Judge O’Connell said it was a “pretty serious matter”.

Defence solicitor Cahir O’Higgins said there had been a dispute about the rent and the landlord-tenant relationship broke down.

Galvin believed he had originally been the “aggrieved party” but went “too far” in dealing with this.

“He crossed the line, he took the law into his own hands and behaved appallingly,” Mr O’Higgins said.

Galvin had a previous “run-in with the fire-safety authorities”, was paranoid about this and when he saw a cable run the length of a corridor, he thought it was very unsafe, Mr O’Higgins said. He was sorry for his actions.

The court heard a €20,000 order had already been made against Galvin which he had not paid yet.

The accused was a “devoted” father and sole provider for his children.

The family home was now subject to a repossession order and the accused was a “man who has lost everything”, Mr O’Higgins said.

The judge said he wanted to hear assurances that this was going to be paid before finalising the criminal case.

‘Mr Pintos was at work when Galvin told him he was “in the process of installing CCTV in the flat” and could watch him’