Man jailed for an extra week as he was 'more comfortable inside prison than outside' Louth court told

A 50 year old man who was arrested following a garda search involving the air support unit, has been jailed for an extra week at the request of his barrister who told Drogheda District Court his client was more comfortable inside prison than outside.

Beniamin Petre of no fixed address in Dublin 1 pleaded guilty to a charge of trespass in such a manner as caused, or was likely to cause fear in another at Philipstown, Louth, Co Louth on September first last.

Court presenter Sgt John O'Hehir told Judge Stephanie Coggans last week that gardaí had received reports of a man acting suspiciously in the Philipstown area on that date and with the assistance of the air support unit had found the defendant in a hay barn.

The sergeant said Mr Petre had no reason to be there and his presence was likely to cause fear to the landowner.

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The defendant had 15 previous convictions and had been in custody since his arrest on the date of the offence.

Judge Coggans initially said she would sentence him to a week backdated to the day of his arrest, however, Defence barrister Eoghan Fagan said his client had difficulties outside of custody.

The lawyer asked for a longer sentence as he said his client was more comfortable in custody and Judge Coggans sentenced the defendant to a week from September eighth.