Clare landlord vandalised his own house to get tenant out

A LANDLORD “exploded” and threw building blocks through the windows of his tenant’s home before taking out a knife and threatening the pensioner, a court has heard.

PJ Walsh (75) was left “badly shaken” by the ordeal which occurred at the property he rented from Christopher Meaney (39) at Poulawilliam, Miltown Malbay, on October 13, 2019. 

Ennis Circuit Court heard Meaney owned the house and “snapped” on the day because of a tenancy dispute with Mr Walsh. 

Meaney, a block-layer, with an address at Quilty East, Quilty, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of criminal damage. 

Judge Francis Comerford reserved sentencing and adjourned the case to October 28. 

The court heard Meaney has assembled €30,000 which is available to Mr Walsh if he chooses to accept it. 

Outlining the facts of the case, Garda Bríd Troy said Mr Walsh had been cooking dinner and watching a hurling match on television when he heard the sound of glass breaking at the front of the house. 

The court heard Mr Walsh looked outside and saw Meaney throwing six inch building blocks through the windows. 

Garda Troy said Meaney broke every window in the front of the house before going to the rear of the property and damaging the conservatory window. 

The court heard Meaney entered the house and took out a knife. 

Garda Troy said, “He (Meaney) said he’d f*****g get him. He said, ‘I told you I’d get you. I want you out of this house’.” 

Garda Troy said Meaney also damaged Mr Walsh’s car. Gardaí attended the scene and Garda Troy said Mr Walsh, a retired ESB worker, was “badly shaken”. 

“It was quite a scene. There was glass everywhere,” the garda added. 

Of the background to the incident, Garda Troy told prosecuting counsel, Lorcan Connolly BL, Mr Walsh was renting the house from Meaney and signed a seven-year lease in 2015. 

The court heard Meaney spent a number of years travelling abroad and when he returned to Clare he wanted Mr Walsh to vacate the property so he could move back in. 

Garda Troy said Mr Walsh refused and when the matter went before a tenancy board, the board ruled in his favour. 

Garda Troy agreed with Mr Connolly the tenancy dispute was an “issue that was ongoing and not improving” and Meaney “just exploded”. The court heard Mr Walsh has since moved away from the area. 

In his victim impact statement, Mr Walsh, said, “This incident has had significant long term impact on my mental and physical health.” 

Mr Walsh described the incident as a “nightmare” and thanked gardaí for their speedy response on the day. 

“The consequences of this burglary will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he added. 

Christopher Meaney was represented by solicitor Patrick Moylan who instructed, Brian McInerney SC. 

Garda Troy agreed with Mr McInerney the matter had arisen from a tenancy dispute.

Counsel said his client’s behaviour on the day was a “moment of madness” and amounted to a “loss of control”. 

Counsel said his client had done “too much thinking about it (the tenancy dispute) and snapped on the day”. 

Mr McInerney said Meaney said his client was a hard working man who was well regarded in his local community. 

However counsel said that his client has “destroyed his reputation” as a result of his behaviour and is “deeply apologetic”. The sum of €30,000 is available for restitution. 

Counsel asked the court to bear in mind his client’s good record and the “extremely unusual circumstances” of the case. 
Judge Comerford adjourned sentencing to October 28.