Fleeing dad fell through shed roof

Eimear Cotter – 23 October 2012 10:30 AM

A PLASTERER who ran from gardai because he wrongly believed there was a bench warrant for him was caught when he fell through a shed roof.

Martin Stokes (27) crashed through the Perspex roof of the shed, which was in the back garden of a west Dublin house, landing on top of a shoe rack and breaking it.
Judge Hugh O'Donnell fined Stokes, of Woodford Heights in Clondalkin, €250 at Blanchardstown District Court after he admitted trespass and criminal damage.
The incident took place at Cedarwood Road in Finglas on August 20 last.
Garda Sergeant Mary Doherty said that when Stokes saw gardai he ran back into a house. Gardai followed him and he went through the house and into the garden.
The sergeant said Stokes went through a few gardens in his efforts to evade gardai. He went up onto a shed roof but crashed through the Perspex roof.
Jennifer Jackson, defending, said dad-of-two Stokes thought he had a bench warrant and panicked when he saw gardai.
hnews@herald.ie