Homeless man, 58, lives in town’s public toilet
At the district court, Judge Patrick Durcan said it was a scandal.
Each night, chronic alcoholic Joseph Pavelka, a Czech, shares the council-owned public toilet with his friend Peter Baram, from Poland, in Ennis’s Market Street.
Mr Pavelka, who is homeless, was in court yesterday regarding five public order offences relating to falling down drunk in public places on three different dates in February and March of this year.
Judge Durcan was told that Mr Pavelka’s residency has lapsed and as a result no state agencies can provide him with assistance.
Solicitor for Mr Pavelka Daragh Hassett told the court his client “would be dead without the Church here in Ennis”.
The Probation Service lodged a report on Mr Pavelka for yesterday’s court and Judge Durcan said it made “dismal and sad reading”.
Judge Durcan said: “This man is living in a public toilet — that is a scandal.”
Mr Pavelka arrived in Ireland in 2007.
The man stayed for a period at a homeless centre for men at Laurel Lodge in Ennis, but must be in receipt of social welfare to remain there.
Mr Hassett said that Mr Pavelka drinks two bottles of vodka each day and pays for the drink from begging on Ennis’s streets.
He said: “It is very sad. “I don’t see him giving up drink, but I think he needs to cut down his drink and stay away from trouble. There are plenty of alcoholics in this county unfortunately, but they don’t all come into court.”
Mr Hassett added: “He has to cut down his drinking significantly. I accept that he is using up Garda resources. I am well aware of his sad tale.”
Mr Hassett said that Mr Pavelka’s lack of English would stop him from attending any alcohol treatment centres.
After being informed that Mr Pavelka needs habitual residency to avail of State services, Judge Durcan said: “That is balderdash, that is all officialdom. I get so irritated when I hear that.
“On the one hand, we are told we are part of the wonderful EU where we have equal rights of establishment. This is a case of a man who needs help and surely there are caring agencies of some kind in this town of Ennis who can help him.”
Judge Durcan told Insp Tom Kennedy: “I am not going to make order, inspector, in respect of these charges — I appreciate that this man may present difficulties but I can’t in good conscience make any order.
“This man needs help and I hope that there are sufficient services in this courtroom available and that there are people of good mind to help him.
“I will give this man every assistance and make every order that will help him if he is prepared to play a bit of ball.”
Judge Durcan said there was a religious order of sisters in Blarney that was willing to take in Mr Pavelka, but they were full at the moment.
“Repatriation back to the Czech Republic has been suggested, but for many people, it is not necessarily an option because there are a whole range of legacy issues that can not be understood here.”
Judge Durcan adjourned the case to May 1.
