An 18-year-old and a 20-year-old man who caused €5,500 worth of damage to the gates and wall of a home, belonging to parents of a man with whom one of the men had issues, were before Kiltimagh District Court on Friday.
The court heard that three separate incidents took place in the early hours of the morning where Sean Behan, Glann, Kilkelly, and Keith Driver, Cordarragh, Kiltimagh, went to the home of Thomas and Anne-Marie Carroll on Park Road, Kiltimagh, on April 17 2009 where both men tied the front electric gates with cable wire and smeared grease and oil on the keypad.
On Saturday May 16 the men returned to the house where items such as newspapers and a traffic cone were placed on the front wall near the front gate and set alight. Smoke damage was caused to the wall, tarmac, and to the front gate.
The following day an oil can was thrown at the front wall but it was not set alight. On May 19, the men splashed oil along the front wall and set fire to it.
CCTV from a house across the road captured a car which was outside the Carroll home when the incidents took place. Gardaí recognised the car which belonged to Driver. Both Driver and Behan admitted their involvement when questioned by gardaí.
The court heard that the Carroll’s son and Driver, who were classmates, fell out, spurning on these activities. The court heard that Driver has just finished school but Judge Mary Devins asked: “What about the side-kick?” She was told that Behan is an apprentice mechanic at a local garage. Neither men have a previous conviction and the full amount of compensation was furnished before court.
Judge Devins said that if CCTV had not been working and if the gardaí had not investigated in such an exemplary manner this could have escalated. The judge described the men’s actions as “cowardly”, “despicable”, and “mean”, saying they were “distressing to those who are entitled to be safe in their own home”.
Judge Devins adjourned sentencing to May 21 2010 where on that date she will require a letter from each defendant sent by way of an apology to Mr and Mrs Carroll, which they must send in the next seven days.
