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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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These people must not have seen AIB’s latest advertising campaign – theme “brave”, as it getting up early, sticking to the task and running your business. It appears AIB have become a river of lending to hard pressed sme’s and the farming community. A most disgraceful and dishonest ad campaign in my opinion.
All of the adds for banks are dishonest. They are all giving mortgages and loans to SMEs but in reality this is a charade. You only have to talk to solicitors who will tell you that clients are being turned down for mortgages for the flimsiest of excuses. The current advertising campaigns are to give the impression that everything is back to normal.
Makes you feel good that we bailed the banks out,doesn’t it!
” Brave ” how are you! You would need to be brave…and foolhardy….If you thought approaching the back might make a difference to your struggling. The economy continues to limp along for all those brave hearts at the bottom of the pile while those with large cash deposits get bigger and richer. Only a fool would believe the spin the government espouse. There is no recovery, there is no trickle down, there are still empty shop units all over the country. And it’s too late for lending, what’s needed are grants, vat and tax breaks, lower rates and a commitment to changing the upwards only rent reviews.
I am so glad someone else made reference to that ad! It’s awful condescending Shi*e. the absolute cheek of AIB to put out an ad like that. The voice over is an appalling choice. Completely out of touch with reality.
This is the sort of evidence out there that shows where our economy is truly at and not the crap that is spun by FG & Labour. You can’t tax the crap out of people to pay debt, run a high spend economy and expect growth.
If Morgan Kelly’s recent prediction is correct, the outstanding loans to small business, if called in by the banks, is the biggest threat to the economy.
The gov have been choosing public sector and bondholders over private sector. Every tax hike means a loss of business to a restaurant and most small service businesses out there. Then you have Nama forcing zombie businesses to compete with ligit ones. And if you have survived all that the local council will be gouging the business in return for very little. The Irish Economy seems to be using Atlas Shrugged as a strategic plan.
This is the sort of evidence out there that shows where our economy is truly at and not the crap that is spun by FG & Labour. You can’t tax the crap out of people to pay debt, run a high spend economy and expect growth.
What happened to businesses maintaining proper current ratios and acid test ratios to ensure their short term expenses are covered? The SME sector insisted on maxing out every line of credit they could possibly set their eyes on..and more.
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