The phone boxes located at the Diamond, Enniskillen RMG44
ONE OF THE FEW remaining phone boxes in Enniskillen town centre seems to be as likely to be used as a toilet as it is by people making a call.
An employee at the CeX shop, Ryan Patterson, told the Herald that in the last number of weeks staff have noticed a man in his 40s regularly use the phone box at the Diamond during the day, rather than the public toilet, less than 50 yards away.
“It first started a couple of weeks ago. My colleague and I were leaving work and we just happened to notice a guy who’s been in there several times taking a pee, obviously absolutely loaded. This would have been no later than five or six in the evening. Even during the day you can see him. I can be working sometimes on a Saturday and I see him in there around 4pm if it’s quiet.”
Ryan admits it is strange behaviour, with the phone box used more as a toilet in the early hours of the morning rather than the afternoon.
“It’s very odd. If someone is drunk they may go off and pee somewhere in private, but to do it in the middle of the day is strange, especially when there’s public toilets open down the steps.”
The public toilets in question at Eden Street are one of five in the town. There is currently no toilet provision for people in the early hours of the morning should nature call.
When asked if many people use the phone box at the Diamond for the more traditional means of making a phone call Ryan estimated that it is used “maybe a couple of times a week”.
“Pay phones just seem to be a thing of the past to be honest. The only thing they seemed to be used for now is the advertising on them,” he added.
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