‘Nobody can be proud of the life Josef had’
Last month, Judge Patrick Durcan brought Mr Pavelka’s plight to national attention when he described the Czech national sleeping in a public toilet in Ennis as a “scandal”.
Mr Pavelka, aged 52, and a chronic alcoholic, remained homeless. His body was found in a laneway in Ennis, Co Clare, last Saturday night.
Mr Pavelka was due to appear at Ennis District Court yesterday concerning a public order charge from last week.
When his name was called, Judge Durcan said: “This is the man that came before us and the case achieved a lot of notoriety.
“I simply want to say again and repeat that in my view, in a modern democracy where someone ends up sleeping up in a public toilet, that is and will always be a scandal.
“There is a duty to ensure that in our society, irrespective of the financial difficulties we have, that there is a basic level of care is available to all.”
Ennis Town Council stated that it had no evidence that anyone was sleeping in its superloos.
In court yesterday, Judge Durcan said: “I am concerned to note that there were denials issued concerning that this man wasn’t living in those conditions.
“The reality is this: Despite his difficulties and despite his self-inflicted problems and despite his inability to deal with those problems, this man’s life in this country was something which is a matter that nobody here can be proud.
“This man appeared in court when required and it really is shamefully sad that this man died in the circumstances and conditions that he did. I would hope that people who are involved in the care of people in private and public bodies and members of the public would try to ensure that no one in their knowledge ends up living in these conditions.
“Out of all the bad stories, good stories may come of them. That it may help and alert everyone to monitor everyone and help everyone to try to assist those institutions — public and private — who care for people.”
Mr Pavelka’s solicitor, Daragh Hassett told Judge Durcan: “Mr Pavelka had his own difficulties we are all aware of. He was a gentleman in every regard.
“We hoped that he would be housed and the chaos in his life would be removed and unfortunately it didn’t happen in time and that is not through any fault of the people who came together in recent weeks.”
Inspector Tom Kennedy confirmed that contact has been made with Mr Pavelka’s family, including a daughter and sister to inform them of his passing and details concerning the repatriation of his body.
