A 42-YEAR old Co Clare man who has ‘destroyed’ the door area to a primary school by sleeping rough there has been banned from certain parts of Ennis Town Centre including the school and a Catholic Church Cathedral.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Fiona Brennan has granted an civil exclusion order against Richard McDermott of no fixed abode from the O’Connell Street/Square areas of Ennis and connected lanes for one year.
It is the fourth exclusion order that local Gardai have obtained at Ennis District Court preventing four men from entering certain parts of Ennis town centre since the start of July due to their anti-social behaviour.
The exclusion order obtained by Supt John Ryan against Richard McDermott includes the St Peter & Paul Cathedral near the top of Ennis’s O’Connell Street and the Holy Family School.
Last December, Mr McDermott received a three month prison term from an incident where he ‘destroyed the floor’ of St Peter and Paul Cathedral by defecating on it on November 12th last.
Making the exclusion order application before a vacation sitting of Ennis District Court under Section 115 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, Supt Ryan said that Mr McDermott has been spending a lot of time on the grounds of the Ennis Holy Family School.
Supt Ryan said that Gardai in the morning would come across Mr McDermott lying in the doorway of the school and the place is destroyed.
Supt Ryan said that it is also totally unsightly for children going to school there.
Supt Ryan said that 10 anti-social behavioural warnings have been served on Mr McDermott by Gardai from May 1st to August 14th concerning drinking on the street and general anti-social behaviour.
Supt Ryan said that Mr McDermott has been “putting tourists and people in fear because of his behaviour and his drunkenness on the street”.
In response to cross-examination from solicitor, Tara Godfrey for Mr McDermott, Supt Ryan said that the application is “a last resort”.
Supt Ryan said that local business people are trying to run businesses “and are losing business because we have some people in and around town lying on benches, drunk and sleeping”.
Supt Ryan said Gardai have been able to tackle the issue to a certain amount working with Clare Co Council and the homeless services.
Supt Ryan said that Mr McDermott – who was not in court as he was in hospital – was in the care of Laurel Lodge homeless services previously and he was out put of that because of his behaviour.
Supt Ryan said that Mr McDermott was also previously in the care of the Brothers of Charity and again because of his behaviour they could not manage him.
Supt Ryan said that he fully accepts that Mr McDermott is addicted to alcohol and when he is brought to Ennis Garda Station he is provided with new clothing and looked after.
Supt Ryan was seeking a two year order and Ms Godfrey said that six months would be more appropriate.
Judge Brennan granted the order for one year and said that the case was dealt with humanely by all parties involved.
