Man used the right key to enter the wrong house

It was a case of if the key fits.

Gavin McCarthy was woken by gardaí at 5am in the wrong house. However, even though he was kilometres from his own house, his key had worked perfectly in the wrong door.

McCarthy had a row at home in Churchfield, on the northside of Cork City earlier that night. He went to Upper Lotabeg where a relative lives, believing he was welcome there.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said the curious thing was that, McCarthy went to the wrong house, near the relative’s property, and his key from his house in Churchfield opened the door.

Inspector Mary King confirmed there was no sign of forced entry. Gardaí later checked McCarthy’s contention that he had used his own key in the stranger’s house and officers confirmed it did open it.

The owner of the house called the gardaí at 5.30am on February 1 when he discovered that McCarthy had let himself in and gone to sleep in the house. Garda Ray Ryan woke McCarthy and escorted him from the house at Upper Lotabeg.

Insp King said McCarthy got aggressive on the way to Mayfield Garda station and was violent at the station. He tore off Sgt Mick Kelleher’s shirt and tried to punch and bite other gardaí.

Mr Buttimer said the accused, of 93, Churchfield Avenue, was on medication at the time and he also went drinking.

Sentencing was adjourned for a month for a probation report.

McCarthy pleaded guilty to trespassing at the house and being obstructive to gardaí at Mayfield Garda station afterwards.