Man caused criminal damage to Cork Simon Community hostel after being refused admittance

Judge imposes a total sentence of five months on 24-year-old at Cork District Court

The man caused damage on two occasions to the Cork Simon Community building in Cork.

A man who had been getting the support of Cork Simon Community for a year caused criminal damage at the hostel twice in one day when he was not admitted.

The judge dealing with the case said it was a case of biting the hand that feeds.

Judge Philip O’Leary commented that Simon is a highly reputable organisation doing their best to help people as he imposed a total sentence of five months on Alex Ioanovici, aged 24, at Cork District Court.

The accused pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a Hikvision doorbell camera at Cork Simon Community on Anderson’s quay.

 The first charge of damage related to the incident at 3.40pm on June 9, 2024,  and the second incident of a very similar nature occurred at 8.20pm.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the accused came to the rear of the premises and asked to avail of services at the hostel in the afternoon but was told he could not do so until later in the evening. He then proceeded to smash the camera doorbell.

When he returned a few hours later he was told that he would not be allowed in due to the damage he caused earlier. He then reacted by carrying out more less the same offence again.

Killian McCarthy solicitor said: “He wants to apologise. This is something that should not have happened. It was not something he intended to do.

“He is a 24-year-old man who came from Romania six years ago. The embassy has his passport and he is finding it difficult to access services. He was residing in Carlow previously.” 

Judge O’Leary said: “I appreciate the man has difficulties but there is a degree of this being self-inflicted.”