Tenant caused £2k damage to flat

Tenant caused £2k damage to flat

12 January 2022

A BALLYNAHINCH man caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a flat when he became annoyed with his landlord about gas.

Stephen Lowey (43), of Main Street, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service for damaging the flat on March 2 last year.

Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court heard that the landlord reported damage to an oven door, kitchen cabinets, drawers and curtains amounted to between £2,000 and £3,000.

A prosecutor said Lowey admitted causing the damage, telling police: “I only smashed the place up because he wouldn’t give me gas”.

Defence barrister Stephen Molloy said there had been an ongoing issue with Lowey and his landlord over gas payments.

“This was dependent on the landlord rather than the defendant as a tenant and he often found himself running out of gas at the end of the week and having to ask for a top-up for the very cold flat,” he explained.

“He lost control of himself and is very apologetic and remorseful about what happened.”

District Judge Amanda Brady did not make a compensation order as Lowey is currently living in a hostel, but warned him about his behaviour in the future.