‘Crime of necessity’: man discovered asleep in vacant Kerry house

By Anna Zacharias, The Kerryman

A man who sheltered in a vacant house appeared in Tralee District Court last Wednesday for trespassing.

Gardaí found Wojciech Rama (34) of no fixed abode asleep under a blanket in a vacant house, the court heard.

“He’s somebody who, unfortunately, had fallen on hard times and essentially had nowhere to sleep, judge,” his solicitor Brendan Ahern told the court.

Someone had contacted the property owner to inform them someone had entered the house.

“The man was looking for a place to sleep, judge,” said Detective Sergeant Chris Manton.

Mr Rama’s only previous convictions were for road traffic violations.

“It was potentially a crime of necessity, judge,” said Det Sgt Manton. “There was no issue with gardaí, he was very cooperative.”

Mr Rama had apologized for his actions, said his solicitor.

“I suppose he’s handled the matter in the best way that he can,” noted Mr Ahern.

Judge David Waters applied the probation act but did not strike it from the record.