Homeowner photographed and followed armed intruder

Spanish national, Allejandro Boblas Conejo (39), with an address at 13 Gleann Burren Park, Tuam Road, denied two charges of entering the curtilage of a family home at College Road on September 24 last year, and to having a knife in his possession when arrested a short time later on the same date by Gardai at Glenanail Drive, Riverside.

A Spanish interpreter was present at Galway District Court to assist the accused who has been living and working in Ireland for the past four years.

Mr Joe Quinn gave evidence that he, his wife and their two children were just sitting down to dinner at 7pm that evening when his son noticed someone out in their back yard, heading towards the house.

Mr Quinn said he went to the back door and confronted a man who turned and ran.

He said the man jumped over a seven-foot high wall in the garden.  He said he grabbed his camera, went around the front of the house and took a photograph of the man as he fled.

He then rang the Gardai and while speaking to a Garda, he could see the man go past the Huntsman and go up towards the Tuam Road.

He followed the man in his jeep while still speaking to a Garda in Mill Street on his phone.

He saw the man turn into Riverside and he kept the Garda appraised of the man’s movements.

Meanwhile, Garda Padraig Healy who was on patrol in the area was alerted to what was happening and went to Riverside.

Mr Quinn stayed in his jeep and pointed Conejo out to Garda Healy when he arrived in Riverside.

Mr Quinn explained the accused would have had to walk about 100 yards, around the side of his house and around the back to get to the door.

Garda Healy gave evidence the accused was out of breath and sweating when he caught up with him in Riverside. He admitted jumping into Mr Quinn’s garden and said he had been confused.

He arrested him on the spot for trespassing at Mr Quinn’s home.

He said he searched the accused and found a knife with a sharp blade in his trouser pocket.

Garda Healy said Conejo told him he was carrying the knife for his own security because he was scared of a group of people.

He claimed he had jumped into the garden because he was afraid.

Garda Healy said Conejo was concerned that he was being following while in the Garda Station and Gardai left him home afterwards to assist him.

Mr Martin said his client thought he and a friend were in danger.  He said his client was carrying the knife because he works as a chef in various restaurants around the city.

He said Conejo carried the knife to and from work every day.

Garda Healy confirmed Conejo was still working as a chef in a city establishment.

Conejo gave evidence himself and with the help of the interpreter he said he had a dream while sleeping in a friend’s house that someone was going to hurt him and a female friend he liked.

“I started hearing voices and for my safety and the other person’s safety, I tried to warn them and I just fled.  I jumped the wall to escape,” he said.

He said he thought he had gone into his friend’s house as people were following him and trying to hurt him. “I was very confused,” he added

Judge Fahy, who had been watching Conejo very closely as he was giving his evidence, said she noticed he knew English very well as he was not even listening to the interpreter.

Mr Martin handed a letter from the Galway Mental Health service into court relating to his client.

Judge Fahy read the letter and then asked if she was being expected to believe the man thought he could carry a sharp knife around with him.

Mr Martin said that under the law, a person is entitled to carry a knife in relation to their work and that his client was carrying it to and from work.

“I don’t accept that.  If every chef armed themselves with knives where would we be?  I don’t accept that at all,” Judge Fahy replied.

Mr Martin said the offences before the court arose out of an episode his client was going through at the time.

Judge Fahy said the accused knew quite well he should not be carrying a knife.

She sentenced him to four months for trespassing at Mr Quinn’s home and imposed a consecutive three-month sentence for carrying the knife.

Referring to the letter handed into court after sentence, Judge Fahy said:  “His mental state at the time was from taking cannabis and possible other drugs, according to this report.”

Conejo lodged €600 in cash in court to appeal the sentence.