No evidence to support toilet claim, says Ennis Town Council

ENNIS Town Council has said it has no evidence to support information given to the district court in Ennis last week that two homeless men were living in public toilets.

“All public toilets operated by Ennis Town Council are Automated Public Conveniences (APC), more commonly known as Superloos. Ennis Town Council has no evidence of any parties using public toilets in Ennis as accommodation facilities. 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,” a statement issued by the town council stated.

Last week, Ennis District Court was informed that Josef Pavelka and Piotr Baran were living in a public toilet to escape the cold weather.

Pat Cahill of St Vincent De Paul has confirmed the two men have secured temporary accommodation in a tourist hostel in Galway city until May 7.

In a statement this week, the town council said, “The public conveniences are subject to an intense maintenance regime, which involves a daily inspection by the said company. 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 said it does not comment on individual housing circumstances, “which are a personal matter”.