A Nuisance homeowner, who has been keeping her neighbours awake at night by slamming doors and windows and throwing objects against a wall, has been warned she faces a month in prison if the noise continues.
Ewa Walsh claimed it was a draught that caused the doors to slam, and said the noises were “normal living” sounds and not excessive.
Mouse
Walsh, of Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, denied she was making excessive noise at her terraced house after her neighbour Liam Coyle brought a civil case of noise pollution against her.
Mr Coyle told the court that he had been living beside the defendant since 2011 and never experienced any issues until last year.
“At all hours of the night – 2am, 3am, 4am and 5am – it’s like she is running through her house, slamming doors and windows and throwing heavy objects against a wall,” said Mr Coyle.
He claimed that during the summer months, when the defendant was leaving her home, she would excessively rev her SUV.
He said the noise stopped and she was “quiet as a mouse” after their last court date but then in early December the noise started again.
“I have kept a log and sound recordings of it,” he said, adding that he has a partner and a young child who are kept awake by the excessive noise.
“I would like to get a night’s sleep.”
However, Ms Walsh claimed that the building quality of the terraced houses was very bad.
“If you close a door, everyone hears it. I don’t do this on purpose,” she said.
“His wife bangs on my door as well. Sometimes the draught between doors causes them to slam.”
She also asked: “What does it mean by excessive noise?”
Judge Dermot Dempsey found her guilty of making excessive noise and warned her that if it continued at its current volume, she will end up in prison.
“Monitor the situation for one month and there better be no repetition of noise – otherwise I am dealing with it,” said Judge Dempsey.
He adjourned the case until February 21.