Grandfather told Dundalk court he locked intruder in shed until gardai arrived

A grandfather has told Dundalk District Court how he locked an intruder into his garden shed until gardaí arrived at the scene.

Mihai Stingu with an address c/o the Simon Community, Barrack Street, Dundalk was charged with trespassing on the curtilage of a building at Hyde Park, Dundalk on November 16th last.

The witness told the court his battery operated bicycle had a puncture and he was wheeling it down to his shed when he noticed the door was 'a bit open' and he used the bike across the shed door and then got the bar across the door and locked it from the outside and called in through the bathroom window to get his wife to call the guards.

He added that there is no access to the garden except through the house apart from climbing the wall.
The witness said his wife was very shaken by the incident and she is not comfortable staying at home on her own as a result.

Mr. Stingu who appeared by videolink responded "I apologise".

Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a two month sentence.