Man who jumped on neighbour's wall causing it to fall on a trampoline appears in court in Tullamore

A MAN who jumped on a neighbour's wall causing it to fall also damaged a trampoline Tullamore District Court heard recently.

In his evidence, Garda O'Connor of Roscrea Garda Station said that he had charged the defendant Joseph Callaghan, (35) Mountain View, Moneygall, on Wednesday, December 14. He said that when he cautioned him Mr Callaghan had replied that he accepted responsibility and was very sorry. The value of the property damaged was  €1,000.

On March 20, 2022, Joseph Callaghan had approached the boundary wall of his neighbour's house. An argument broke out and Mr Callaghan started to jump on the wall. It collapsed on a trampoline which was near the wall.

Solicitor Donal Farrelly said the dispute had gone back to a grievance the neighbours had with the defendant leaving rubbish against the wall.

Mr Farrelly said the neighbours had been burning rubbish and Joseph Callaghan had gone to speak to them. He had drink taken. He said the wall had been in a decayed state and the trampoline had been old. He was surprised the damage amounted to  €1,000.

Mr Callaghan is a full time carer for his mother and earns  €224 per week carer's allowance. He had brought  €250 to court as he thought that might cover the extent of the damage caused.

Garda O'Connor handed photographs of the wall to Judge Andrew Cody who noted it was a block wall and not an old stone wall. He said the balance of  €750 should be paid.

Mr Farrelly asked for six or seven months to allow Mr Callaghan to save the money.

Judge Cody put the case back to May 2023 adding that the wall might have been shook but it still cost money to rebuild.