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Homeless man caught defecating in communal garden gets suspended sentence

Summary

Thomas Coleman, 62, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of disorderly conduct and trespass after he was caught defecating in the communal garden of an apartment block on Clyde Road, Ballsbridge. The incident occurred on 29 April 2014 when a resident, alerted by noise at about 5.30 am, removed Coleman's bicycle from the garden and took it onto Clyde Road. Coleman shouted violently at the resident and used "colourful language" in a threatening manner before Garda John Cahill arrived. The resident had called the Gardaí, who removed Coleman from the scene and later found his bicycle missing. Coleman was acquitted of assault causing harm. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a one‑month suspended sentence for one year, ordered him to stay away from the apartment block and its residents, and noted the loss of his bicycle as a serious consequence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Homeless man caught defecating in communal garden gets suspended sentence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• April 29, 2014 Incident
• 2016-04-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report