Homeless men leave accommodation to go back on streets
A District Court heard earlier this month that Czech national Josef Pavelka, 52, was living in a public toilet in Ennis, while Pole Piotr Baram, 35, was sleeping in a separate public toilet on Ennis’s Market St.
At the district court in Ennis earlier this month, Judge Patrick Durcan described their living conditions as a “scandal”.
In response, St Vincent de Paul, in consultation with other agencies, arranged emergency accommodation for the two men at a tourist hostel in Galway.
However, the two have quit the emergency accommodation. They were back on the streets of Ennis last night.
The two men, the court previously heard, are alcoholics and cannot receive any social welfare benefits as they do not have habitual residency. They depend on the local church in Ennis and St Vincent de Paul for daily food.
Mr Baram claimed he and Mr Pavelka were provided with breakfast at the hostel in Galway but did not get any other meal.
He said they begged for food and money in Galway.
He said: “In Galway, it is not too good. Galway is very nice, very tidy, but the people — they are better in Ennis.
“It is better to be in Ennis. Here I feel good, everyone knows me — I know everyone. In Galway, I didn’t know anyone.
“Today I am hungry, but I hope to get a meal later.”
He vowed not to return to sleep in the public toilet in Ennis.
On Sunday, his first night back in Ennis, Mr Baram slept in the open under a blanket on the grounds of a school.
He said: “Too many people know that we slept in the toilet. There is a big problem with the toilets now.”
Tomorrow, Mr Pavelka will reappear before Judge Durcan on a public order charge.
The court will receive an update on efforts to provide Mr Pavelka and Mr Baram with alternative accommodation.
