€150 fine for Santa protester who kicked court door

A man who kicked in the door of a courtroom while dressed as Santa Claus was fined €150 by a Cork judge yesterday and ordered to keep the peace for two years.

Pat Allen (54) from Pearse Street, Cork, spent three nights in prison after he was arrested on Monday at Cork District Courthouse. He appeared before Judge John Riordan at a special sitting at court three on Monday dressed in a red Santa Claus suit and wearing a long white beard and hair.

Allen, who represented himself on Monday despite being offered free legal aid, was remanded in custody with consent to bail, to appear before Cork District Court yesterday.

His defence solicitor, Catherine Kirwan, yesterday made an application for free legal aid saying Mr Allen, who is on crutches, was on disability benefit. She said he was pleading guilty to a charge of criminal damage.

Insp Pat Cadogan told the court that Mr Allen entered the courthouse on December 17th and went to court number one. "The door was locked and he damaged the door by forcing it open. The estimated total cost of damage and repairs is €100," he said. The court heard Mr Allen had 10 previous convictions dating back to 1971.

The defendant lived alone but had a long-term girlfriend, who along with his family had been supportive to him over a long period of illness.

Ms Kirwan explained: "He has a serious heart condition, suffered cancer, has diabetes and anaemia. He has severely swollen feet, which account for his crutches, and he is on 15 tablets a day, so prison was particularly uncomfortable for him."

Ms Kirwan said that on the day in question her client was very angry. He was very sorry for his actions and asked that any fine imposed on him be paid to Cork Simon Community.

"He was attempting to highlight the plight of homeless people in the city. When he was moved on from city hall by gardaí with his fellow protesters, he came to the courthouse to highlight the issue to the judge and to look for justice here."

After hearing that €100 had been paid into court on behalf of the defendant yesterday, Judge Riordan fined him €150 and ordered him to keep the peace for two years.