This article is from page 8 of the 2013-04-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
TWO men that had been living rough on the streets of Ennis have secured temporary accommodation at a tourist hostel in Galway.
It emerged last week that Czech national Josef Pavelka (58) and his Polish friend Peter Baram (35) had spent a period of time living in public toilets in Ennis town centre.
The men’s living arrangements were disclosed in a report by the Probation Services at Ennis District Court where Mr Pavelka appeared on charges of public intoxication.
On viewing the report, Judge Patrick Durcan commented that it was a “scandal” that a person is “living in a toilet in a prosperous nation”.
Mr Pavelka’s solicitor Daragh Has- sett said that if it wasn’t for the help of the church, his client “would be dead”.
The court heard Mr Pavelka has chronic problems with alcohol. Ennis Town Council operates the Automated Public Conveniences (APC), more commonly known as superloos.
In a statement last week, the council said it “has no evidence of any parties using public toilets in Ennis as accommodation facilities”.
The statement continues, “Having checked with the Gardaí, a similar view has been expressed. Furthermore, the company contracted to maintain the public toilets says there is no evidence to suggest that the toilets are being used in such a manner.
The council says the toilets are “subject to an intense maintenance regime which involves a daily inspection by the said company”.
It continues, “The toilets are automated and the mechanism provides for a voice warning, an alarm activation and an automatic opening of the door after a 20 minute period. This includes an early morning inspection on at least five days each week. Ennis Town Council does not comment on individual housing circumstances, which are a personal matter. The relevant agencies and bodies have, however, been involved in addressing housing needs of the parties involved.”
Yesterday Pat Cahill, Manager of Laurel Lodge temporary accommodation centre where the men lived for two years, confirmed that Mr Pavelka and Mr Baram are now living on a temporary basis in Galway City. Mr Cahill said the men can stay in the hostel until May 7. He said the accommodation was secured following a multi-agency case conference.
Fr Tom Hogan, Ennis Parish administrator, said the men are “delighted to have a roof over their heads and a bed under them”. He said the men, who received meals from the St Vincent de Paul and the Church, “fell through cracks in the system”.
Fr Hogan said Mr Pavelka lived in public toilets for three weeks while Mr Baram lived there “on and off”.
Last Wednesday, Ennis District Court heard that Mr Pavelka was unable to take up an offer of re-patriation to the Czech Republic due to family issues. The court heard Mr Pavelka’s habitual residency has lapsed and as a result no state agencies can provide him with assistance.