KILDARE: Barricaded himself into room at a residential centre and threatened to set fire to it
A man barricaded himself into a room into a room at a residential homeless accommodation setting and threatened to set it on fire.
Before Naas District Court was Keith Riggs, 39, no fixed abode was originally prosecuted for trespass and threatening to cause damage at Kerdiffstown House, Johnstown, which is run by the Peter McVerry Trust on March 22, 2022.
The incident happened at Kerdiffstown House, Johnstown, which is run by the Peter McVerry Trust.
Garda Conor Branigan told a previous court hearing that the defendant entered the building - where had resided previously.
He added the defendant was no longer welcome at Kerdiffstown House and had been asked to leave.
He said the defendant left voluntarily and it had taken an hour “to talk him out.”
He told Judge Desmond Zaidan that no violence was used and the man did not make any threats.
The court also heard that he was homeless at the time.
The court further heard that he has 29 previous convictions and earlier this year received a custody term at Dublin Circuit Court for arson and has a release date of May 2029.
Gda Branigan said this incident occurred four days after the incident in Kerdiffstown and after he had taken up residence at a hostel in Dublin.
He said the injured party in that case suffered significant burns.
Defending barrister Aisling Murphy said the defendant has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and was off his medication, which is administered by injection.
She also said the man was a heroin addict from the age of 14. But he has undergone a methadone treatment programme and is now drug free.
Ms Murphy said he is an enhanced prisoner and is studying maths and english.
She said his mother had passed away and he was not allowed out for the funeral.
She said the incident would not have happened but for the fact that the defendant was off his medication.
Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed an 11 months custody term.