West Cork locals persuade squatters who refused to move to leave the area

A group of local people came to the aid of a property owner in West Cork who found two men trespassing on his property, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said the incident occurred at Connonagh, Leap, Co Cork, on May 30, 2025. The court was told the owner of the disused pub, the Morris Arms in Connonagh, came upon two strange men at 5.50pm, who were trespassing at his property.

The two men were at the rear of the property and did not have permission to be there. The owner said he was fearful the men may damage the building as there was a fire at the premises two nights previously that was caused by squatters.

The owner asked the two trespassers to leave but they refused to do so and said they would leave in the morning. One of the men was identified as 60-year-old Tomas Zielinski, of no fixed abode. The court was told “a few locals arrived”, followed by gardaí and the two men then left the property.

Zielinski was arrested and charged with trespass contrary to Section 13 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. The court was told Zielinski had five previous convictions, four of which were for being intoxicated in public.

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said the building was effectively derelict and the area where the men were found was excavated from rock behind it. 

He said Zielinski had been living in Ireland for 12 years but still had very little English. He said the two men were heading back towards Cork from “further afield” that evening. He said Zielinski accepted he should not have been there and added his client had an alcohol problem.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the fact the owner asked the two men to leave and they did not put “a different perspective” on the matter. She said: “Trespass is one thing but when the owner asks you to leave and has to get the neighbours to help, it’s quite another.”

She sentenced Zielinski to three months in prison suspended for 12 months and also ordered him to enter into a probation bond for 12 months on condition he attends alcohol addiction treatment.