Man tells court he eats from supermarket bins
A man seeking free legal aid from the State claimed that he had neither income nor expenses, made possible by living in a squat and eating from supermarket bins, Galway District Court heard.
Shane O’Brien (23), with an address at 9 Kempton Avenue, Navan Road, Dublin 7, is one of three young men accused of entering a building in the city as trespassers on February 11 last.
Along with co-accused, Jonathan Healy (24), of Tirellan Heights, Headford Road, and Gael Dusser (26), of 7 Lower Grangegorman Road, Dublin 7, he is charged with entering 17 Merchant’s Road Lower in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that such entry was with the intent to unlawfully interfere with any property situated within.
The latter failed to show up, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Healy, meanwhile, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again on April 8 for DPP’s directions.
O’Brien was the last of the trio to be called, and when his legal aid application form was handed in, he had written ‘Zero’ in the sections indicating income and expenditure.
When questioned about it, he said that he does not claim social welfare, that he feeds himself through food discarded by supermarkets, and lives in a squat.
Judge Mary Fahy could get no satisfaction when she inquired further. And, barrister, Gary McDonald – acting on behalf of a Dublin firm of solicitors – could not put things any further: “He told me he doesn’t use money.”
Judge Fahy said that while it was a great principle, she found it hard to accept it.
However, she granted free legal aid, but put in a condition of bail that O’Brien is to stay away from Galway City and County other than for court appearances.