Limerick man breached court exclusion order to help his sick wife 

A MAN who had been ordered to stay away from the Castleview Estate in Newcastle West returned there for a few days to help his wife after she had been in hospital, the local court heard last Thursday.

Before the court was Patrick Maughan, 20 Stone Court, Ennis who pleaded to breaching the exclusion order at Castleview last April 13. Maughan, the court heard, had 242 previous convictions.

“What was he doing there?” Judge Mary Larkin asked.

Pleading for his client, solicitor Ted McCarthy said he had complied with the order up to that point.

“The state are aware of the situation regarding his partner which led him to come back for a short period to the family home,” Mr McCarthy said. Mr Maughan had been with his wife throughout the seven days she was in hospital, he continued.

“She asked him to come back to the house for a few days to get her settled,” he said. “He was there four days, basically helping her out. He instructs me that, but for that,  he would not have breached the order. I think there was a certain sympathy for him in the estate.”

When the gardai called, Mr Maughan was co-operative, Mr McCarthy pointed out and explained the situation.

“He is since back in Ennis and has persuaded members of her family to come on board and assist her and that is happening.”

Judge Larkin fined Maughan €150.