A 26-year-old man who was found trespassing at the rear of a premises at Moneen appeared before Castlebar District Court this week.
Garda Michael Gaughan outlined that on Sunday August 3 at 4.15pm a report was logged with gardaí about a man acting suspiciously at the rear of a stainless steel store in Moneen. On arrival at the scene Gda Gaughan observed Gerard McDonagh of Bay Six, Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quinn Road, Ennis, Co Clare, who when saw the patrol car walked away, before he turned around and walked back in the direction of the Garda car.
The Garda then questioned the defendant as to why he was in the area to which he replied that “he was going to the toilet”. When the defendant was asked for his details McDonagh reiterated that he “was going to the toilet”.
Gda Gaughan arrested the defendant as he did not have a reasonable excuse and conveyed him to Castlebar Garda Station where a routine search was conducted. McDonagh was found in possession of a yellow carpet blade but could not give a reasonable excuse for having it in his possession.
Solicitor for McDonagh, Cathy McDarby, said that the married father of three was visiting Castlebar for a few weeks for their annual holidays and said that the defendant accepts that he was in an area in which he shouldn’t have been.
As for McDonagh being in possession of a carpet blade, Ms McDarby explained that her client was laying lino the day before and had placed the blade in his trousers—which he wore the following day.
Judge Mary Devins asked the defendant why he was in the area to which he said that “he was out for a walk” from his caravan which was parked on the Ballinrobe Road. Judge Devins convicted and fined McDonagh €300 for trespassing.
