CELEBRITY Big Brother star Jeremy McConnell has told a court he entered a woman’s home without permission because he was intoxicated and became disorientated after he was chased by two men following a house party.
The reality TV star was found by the homeowner in the kitchen area of her house at 6.30am in Skerries, Co Dublin after she heard a noise downstairs.
However, Balbriggan District Court heard the woman “was not in fear” but she had called gardaí.
The model told gardaí, who arrived at the house in Kelly’s Bay Strand 10 minutes after the woman called them, he was attending a house party in the same estate and “became disorientated” after he claimed two men were chasing him.
McConnell, of Boroimhe Laurels in Swords, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to trespassing at the woman’s house in Skerries on 10 February 2017.
He had entered the woman’s home through a rear back door which was unlocked, the court heard.
Garda John Lennon gave evidence he arrested the defendant at Balbriggan Garda Station on 10 August 2017 at 3.30pm. He said the defendant replied “I’m sorry” to the charge.
Garda Lennon said he received a call on 10 February 2017 at 6.30am from a woman who reported a male had entered her house and was in the kitchen area.
Ten minutes later Garda Lennon arrived at the property and met with the injured party.
The defendant was still on the premises.
He was socialising in the area and had left a house party. “He claimed he had been chased by two other men and was still disorientated but very apologetic,” said Garda Lennon.
When asked by Judge Dermot Dempsey if the injured party was put in fear, Garda Lennon said:
No, she said she wasn’t in fear, she had her dog in the house.
Addressing the court, McConnell, who starred in MTV’s Beauty School Cop Outs, said: “I am extremely apologetic. I was intoxicated and went into the wrong house.”
He explained he has undergone rehabilitation since the offence and is now residing in Cardiff for the next three months for work reasons.
When asked by Judge Dempsey if he brought any cash with him to court, indicating he may give the defendant the opportunity to make a charitable donation in lieu of a conviction, he replied:
I didn’t bring any cash with me today but I can come back next week.
However, Judge Dempsey then proceeded in handing down a conviction and fined him €150.
After his court appearance, McConnell told this reporter: “It was last year at a rough time. I am very sorry to the lady. I’ve paid my fine and can finally move forward. She made me a lovely cuppa too.”
This conviction comes after he was found guilty of assaulting the mother of his child, UK actress Stephanie Davis. He pleaded not guilty to the offence and was given a suspended sentence.
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