Returning to Ireland from Canada has left a 23-year-old broke and in trouble with his parents, who now want him to do an anger management course.
Richard Gilligan, who is home living with his mother and step-father at 14 Ardleigh Crescent, Mullingar has had long-running difficulties in getting social welfare.
He said the Department of Social and Family Affairs claim to be deducting €137 per week from a payment he doesn’t get.
The incident before the court arose when his parents had to contact gardaí when he threatened to trash their home if they didn’t give him money, breaking the terms of a protection order they’ve taken out against him.
He was aggressive when he approached his mother looking for the money, and when she refused, he threatened her.
Because there was a lot of screaming and shouting, the family had no choice but to call the Gardaí and he appeared before a special court in Dublin last Monday.
If an appeal to the Department is successful, Gilligan says he will move out of home.
Solicitor Louis Kiernan said his client wanted to apologise for what he accepted had been a very serious issue and the young man has agreed to do an anger management course.
“Meanwhile respect your mother, don’t raise your voice or your hand to her,” warned Judge Hughes, who said she is to let the court know if he “steps out of line”.
He adjourned the case to February 27.
