A Congolese national who ‘fixed his private parts’ inside his jeans while standing outside a hair salon was jailed for two days in order for him to get his story right.
Yves Matondo of 36 Hilltop Cresent, Ballyhaunis Road, Claremorris appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court after he was arrested outside Diva’s hair salon in Claremorris for refusing to leave the area after gardaí were called when he hung around the premises.
When asked by Judge Mary Devins why he was in and out of the hairdressers, Mr Matondo replied that his ‘hair was in a mess’ but they were busy and he asked for a comb.
Judge Devins told him not to be ridiculous and told him that she did not believe him.
“That is absolute nonsense, you are lying to the court, don’t do that,” she warned him.
Inspector Joe Doherty explained that on March 24, 2012 Mr Matondo had entered the premises on three occasions and was waving his hands around. The hair salon is located upstairs and the owner Yvonne McNabb called the gardaí after the defendant stood outside looking up at them and opened his jeans and ‘fixed his private parts’.
The court heard that Ms McNabb said the defendant continued to look up at them and she called the gardaí because her staff and customers were ‘nervous and afraid’.
When gardaí arrived at the scene, they told Mr Matondo that his behaviour was inappropriate and asked him to leave the area. He told them he opened his belt to fix his jeans and refused to leave and was arrested when he again refused to leave when given the lawful direction to do so.
Inspector Doherty explained that when the defendant was released from custody, he went straight back to the salon and left when he saw the gardaí arrive.
When she asked Inspector Doherty what was the background to the case, Inspector Doherty said he had no connection with the staff and he had no previous convictions.
Mr Matondo told Judge Devins he was a Congolese citizen and was residing legally in Ireland for a year but his term of residence was to expire in a ‘few months time’. He said his father was an Irish citizen and he came to Ireland for an education.
Judge Devins told Mr Matondo she did not believe he was telling the truth about what happened on the day and remanded him in custody for two days for him to get his story right.
After reappearing in court on Friday last, Judge Devins fined him €100.