But at Tralee District Court, Mr Sheehy of 6 Dr Newman Place, Dromcolliher, County Limerick, told the judge he was confused when asked to give his home address. Gardaí alleged Mr Sheehy had failed to abide by his bail conditions by failing to providing a correct address for his residence.
Mr Sheehy was on bail for charges related to an alleged incident at Killarney Garda Station on February 21. These included criminal damage to a €400 door; assault; burglary; intoxication in a public place to an extent he could be a danger to himself or others; threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and the assault or obstruction of a peace officer. The address given was Ruppulagh, Glenroe, Kilmallock, County Limerick. Gardaí testified they had visited the provided address on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22.
“He’s not residing at the address provided in court, judge,” a garda testified. “The address that I gave is my home address for years,” Mr Sheehy responded in testimony.
Mr Sheehy clarified the address provided was his parents’ address, which he considered ‘home’ but he worked as a farm labourer and in machinery on the other side of the county. He returned to his parents’ address regularly and had last stayed there six weeks earlier.
“I thought it was my home address I was to give,” he told Judge David Waters.
Tralee Courthouse. Photo by Mark O’Sullivan.
News in 90 seconds – March 10
His solicitor, Pádraig O’Connell, stated, “I think the judge asked you what was your home address and you understood that to be where you came from.” “One hundred per cent,” he replied. “I just got mixed home.”
Under oath, he said he had not answered his phone because it was broken but he had it repaired on Monday. The court heard that when gardaí visited the provided address, they were told it was the residence of another family.
Mr Sheehy responded that this family lived “just down the road from me”.
“You gave them the wrong address,” said Sgt Chris Manton. “You were asked the address where you were going to be residing, quite clearly.”
“Is it possible the guards went to the wrong house?” asked the judge.
He had applied to amend the address on Monday to his Dromcolliher address which, gardaí confirmed, is where he was found.
The judge found everything was in order and the case was adjourned.
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