A man who was in Portadown in breach of a Deportation Order claimed he had been so drunk he got on the wrong train in Dublin and travelled north instead of going to Birr in County Offally where he said he now lives.
Valdis Grundizs (58), with an address on his charge sheet as Atkinson Avenue in Portadown, was detected on October 22 this year.
He appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link from prison.
The defendant, who pleaded guilty to the offence, had the assistance of an interpreter in court.
The court was told the defendant had previously breached a Deportation Order and at court last year had been given a suspended prison sentence.
He has now been back in court for a second breach.
At Friday’s court a defence barrister said the defendant had been drinking and got a train in Dublin planning to go towards Birr in County Offaly “where he lives” but instead had boarded a Belfast-bound train and realised in Portadown he was on the wrong train.
He got off and was walking around Portadown ahead of getting a train back south, it was said.
The barrister said the defendant had previously lived in Northern Ireland.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the court was being told the defendant had been so drunk he “accidentally” made his way to Northern Ireland.
The judge said he was “sceptical” about the excuse.
He handed down a one month jail sentence. As the defendant had pleaded guilty to the new charge the judge said he would not activate the suspended sentence.
The judge said when the prison term ends an “extradition” process is due to start.
The defence barrister said when the defendant is returned to his home country he intends to go back to the Republic of Ireland.
