Trespassed on empty Offaly nursing home after disagreement with wife

A MAN went to a vacant former nursing home building after having a dispute with his wife, Tullamore District Court was told.

A four-month suspended sentence for trespassing was imposed on Valdas Cerniauskas (49), O'Carroll Street, Tullamore.

Mr Cerniauskas, who was assisted in court by a Lithuanian speaking interpreter, pleaded guilty to entering Consolation Nursing Home in Tullamore as a trespasser on June 24 last.

Sergeant Justine Reilly said the prosecution by Detective Garda Adrian Hanley arose after a male was disturbed by the owner of the building who found him there without permission.

Sergeant Reilly added that Mr Cerniauskas had a previous conviction for uninsured driving and having three bald tyres on a vehicle and received a suspended sentence. He also had a drug possession conviction from 2023.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, said the man had gone into the property following a domestic disagreement with his wife.

He went there to stay warm and the building was not functioning as a nursing home at the time.

Mr Nugent added that the accused was not working and had been on a disability payment for a number of years following an injury.

Judge Andrew Cody suspended the sentence for two years.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme)