Ten months in jail for ‘ snooping at house’

A Galway man with over 100 convictions claimed he was looking for directions when confronted peering the back window of a house in Riverstown. Pat Harty ( 44) of Halting Site, Gort admitted a charge of trespassing at a house at Gleann, Riverstown on June 21st and with driving without a licence at Bundoran Road on June 23rd. Inspector Donal Sweeney said Gardaí got a call of a man peering in the window of a kitchen of a house at Gleann and when approached he asked for directions for Drumshambo before driving off. He was subsequently stopped by Sergeant Therese Duignan in Riverstown. He was banned from driving at the time having been put off the road for ten years in November 2014.

Ms Kathleen Henry BL ( defending) said Harty, a father of five, was on medication and had consumed alcohol at the time with two aunts and a cousin having passed away. Harty was currently serving a sentence for theft with a release date in August. Judge Kilrane said Harty was snooping around a house and he believed he was not making enquiries for Drumshambo but was there for other more serious matters. Harty was jailed for ten months.