This article is from page 2 of the 2006-06-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A MAN who had a gripe with a priest over a book he wrote, shouted obscenities outside another priest’s house late at night.
Joe Cullinan (57), of 6, Elm House, Shannon – a writer of books and poetry – appeared before Shannon District Court, facing criminal damage and public order charges, following two separate incidents.
Sergeant Michael O’Connell told the court that Fr Colm Hogan complained that the front window of his house had been broken during the night of March 18.
He said the accused was seen shouting in the area, calling the priest a “Tipperary f*****.” The incident took place at around 11pm.
“He admitted that he was very drunk and was shouting, roaring and calling the priest obscene things. He said he had no fault with Fr Hogan but he had with another priest,” said Sgt O’Connell.
Relating to a separate incident, Garda Chris Lanney said the accused banged on the front window of the porch of a house, at around 1.30am on December 27 last.
He broke the porch during the incident and verbally abused the occupant of the house.
“He called the occupant a f***ing c*** and a b****. It is an ongoing thing between the occupant and the defendant. A friend of his lives next door,” said the garda. The court was told the accused, who has a drink problem, agreed to pay €450, in respect of the criminal damage to the porch.
Mr Cullinan, a separated father-of-two, writes books and poetry on Clare, which he sells to tourists. He was in dispute with a priest in relation to one of his books.
Defending solicitor Rachel Dobson said both matters related to alcohol and her client had never been in trouble before.
Judge Joseph Mangan noted that €450 damage was caused on one occasion and €40 on the other and heard that no compensation was in court.
“If someone has a dispute with a neighbour, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it,” added the judge.
He adjourned the case for a week, remanding the accused in custody with consent to bail.
Referring to the compensation, he said, “I don’t expect him to have all of that next week, but I’m certainly not going to wait another six months.”
He ordered that a Probation report, with specific reference to alcohol abuse and anger management, be carried out.