Man told to move out of address in the Midlands or go to jail

A man who breached a safety order in Laois was told to find a new address or go to prison. 

The man (35) who has a Laois address and cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted loitering near his ex partner’s house on January 24 last.

Garda Peter Leonard told the court he had received a complaint from the man’s ex partner. Her mother had phoned her to tell her the man was hanging around outside and she decided not to return home that night. 

Garda Leonard said the defendant had 10 previous convictions including four for drugs and five for road traffic offences and one for a breach of a safety order. 

Solicitor Josepine Fitzpatrick said the woman who took out the order “subsequently moved to an address that was quite close to the accused”.  The court heard the accused now lives less than 10 doors away from the woman. 

“It clearly put her in fear but he does live nearby,” she said. 

She also said there had been no further incidents since the offence took place. 

“There was no aggravating factor in so far as there was no abuse, there was no bad language,” she said. 

The woman who took out the safety order took the stand. 

“I have severe depression and anxiety down to this,” she said. 

“I was afraid before because he contacted me threatening my life and my families lives,” she explained. 

She told the court he visits a house two doors away from hers. 

“You can move away from this estate or you can move up to the Dublin Road,” Judge Andrew Cody told the defendant in reference to the Midlands Prison on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.

“He has two choices, to move to the Dublin Road or to move somewhere of his choosing,” he told Ms Fitzpatrick. 

She said if given a week the man would be able to find alternative accommodation. 

Judge Cody adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on June 27 for finalisation.