A homeless man, who has been living rough in Fermanagh, has been remanded in custody after he failed to leave both St Michael's Catholic Church and the Methodist Church in Enniskillen on Sunday night.

Police received a report from the parish priest of St Michael's, telling them that he had asked Paul Raymond McAfee, from no fixed abode, to leave the premises, but that this request had been refused.

Police arrived at the Church and found McAfee in an 'agitated state'. The officers persuaded him to leave the premises. However, when he came out onto Darling Street, the defendant then became abusive to pedestrians on the street. Police warned him about his behaviour and he calmed down and stopped shouting, and left the area.

However, a short time later, police on mobile patrol received a request from the Elders of the nearby Methodist Church, again reporting that McAfee was refusing to leave their church.

Police again warned him about his behaviour. However, McAfee continued to act 'inappropriately' and was arrested.

Defence solicitor, Garry Smyth explained that his client was a 35-year-old, who had had been living rough in Fermanagh for a number of months. Mr Smyth submitted that McAfee was 'his own worst enemy', and he added that his client's health was in decline.

The solicitor said that the defendant had attended both churches 'seeking heat and shelter', but that he had been asked to leave. Mr Smyth said that McAfee had been drinking heavily, but he accepted that his behaviour was disorderly. He had instructed him to extend his clients apologies to both churches, their congregations, the police and members of the public who had been affected.

Mr Smyth added that his client had a clean record until recent years.

The RM Liam McNally said, "It is difficult to know what to do with him. I could maintain the religious trend and wash my hands of him."

Mr McNally then remanded McAfee in custody until 21st March, after which he said he would look at both probation and psychiatric reports before sentencing.