Ennis is to be the eternal home for Czech national Josef Pavelka after efforts to repatriate the man’s body to his native country have failed.

The best friend of the late homeless man Josef Pavelka, who came to national attention because they both had to sleep in a public toilet, said Josef was his fourth friend to die from drinking too much alcohol “and I don’t want to be the fifth to die from drinking”.

A campaigner for the homeless was convicted of stealing almost €27,000 from the bank account an 87-year-old care home patient.

Two homeless men who lived in public toilets in Ennis for a number of weeks have secured emergency temporary accommodation in Galway.

A community leader yesterday warned that two homeless men currently living in public toilets in Ennis will die unless they can access state services.