A HOMELESS man who walked into a hostel uninvited and startled six student nurses appeared on a trespass charge at Bantry District Court.

The case was initially heard last December but it was adjourned for the production of a probation officer’s report.

Solicitor Colette McCarthy said her client, Steve Stawen (47), formerly of the Hummingbird Rise Hostel in Glengarriff, can give no excuse other than he was desperate on the night for somewhere to stay.

Previously, Sgt Trish O’Sullivan said the accused gained access to Barry’s Hostel at Harbour View at 1.10am on November 24th last through an unlocked door at the rear of the premises.

When he entered, he met six student nurses and told them he was staying at the hostel.

But the sergeant said they felt he was not making any sense.

After they confronted him he left and they reported the matter to gardaí.

Gardaí located the accused and he admitted he did not have permission to be there, but said he had stayed there before on a previous visit to Bantry.

Ms McCarthy said her client was homeless but has since been given emergency accommodation in Macroom.

She said he also has mental health and addiction issues but is about to enter a residential treatment programme.

Ms McCarthy also made the point that CCTV footage of the incident demonstrated that there was nothing aggressive about her client’s behaviour.

In mitigation, Ms McCarthy said her client is a trained chef and also has employment as a tree surgeon.

Judge Joanne Carroll was of the opinion that the accused put the nurses in fear and she instructed him to carry out 60 hours community service on the trespass charge.

She convicted him of being intoxicated in a public place and placed him on a probation bond for the next 12 months and she instructed him to avail of assistance offered by the probation service.

In addition, a three-month suspended sentence was imposed in relation to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.