Local Irish papers are the best possible source for the truly bizarre stories that happen on occasion in this country and the Mayo News certainly doesn’t disappoint this week.
Although we’re at the height of summertime at the moment and don’t want to hear word of Christmas for another few months at least, readers of this week’s Mayo News would no doubt have found it impossible to ignore a story with the headline ‘Man found in Christmas Tree after New Year’s Eve Drink’.
Further investigation on the Mayo News website reveals that the Christmas tree was located not just in any house, but in a house in Ballina located next door to one owned by a man named Pakie Bonner, who as far as we’re aware, is not or is no relation of, the Donegal man responsible for the most famous save in the history of Irish football.
The Mayo News reports that the trespasser in question had consumed three bottles of whiskey with four friends on New Year’s Eve last before trying to enter the homes of Pakie Bonner and neighbour Gregory Connolly in an effort to find shelter while on the way home in the early hours of the morning.
Having unsuccessfully tried to get into Bonner’s house, the man in question then broke into Connolly’s house and having heard some commotion, Mr. Connolly’s partner called the Gardai, who arrived within minutes.
Upon searching the premises, Mr.Connolly’s partner saw the outline of a man in the Christmas tree, who was not wearing any shoes (Suspect is shoeless, I repeat, shoeless) and was pulled out of the tree by a Garda present, with a subsequent investigation revealing that the trespasser caused damage of over €600 between the two houses.
The case was heard in Ballina District Court last week and was put back to October pending a probation report and for more details on what is a truly bizarre tale, you can find them in the Mayo News report here.
Only in Ireland, eh?
