Two youths who smashed 36 windows on a Dart train with emergency hammers, causing more than €40,000 of damage, have received four-year sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Seán Howard (20), Killary Grove, Donaghmede, and Jason Hutton (19), Redmond's Court, Kilbarrack, caused passengers to be sprayed with shattered glass as the train left the station.
Judge Michael White jailed Howard for four years, saying he had a substantial record of 16 previous convictions and had received many chances.
Judge White suspended Hutton's sentence entirely, noting that he had four "more minor" convictions and had received a favourable probation report.
Howard and Hutton pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Howth Junction station on March 17th, 2005. The total loss to Iarnród Éireann, including loss of revenue as the train was out of service for three days, was estimated at €42,350.
Judge White said this kind of behaviour was now prevalent on St Patrick's Day. "It was damage to public property that was providing a public service on our national feast day when a number of families were on the train," he said.
Garda Seosamh Ó Conghaile told Vincent Heneghan, prosecuting, that a man on the Dart with his young family saw the defendants take emergency hammers from the train and smash a window. They got off at Howth Junction and smashed windows as the train left the station.
Glass was showered on a number of passengers but because of the type of glass in the windows, there were no large splinters and no one was injured.
Garda Ó Conghaile said CCTV footage was broadcast on Sky News and with the help of passengers, Howard and Hutton were identified as suspects. Gardaí called to their homes on March 24th and they both immediately admitted their involvement.
Garda Ó Conghaile said that 36 windows were damaged, 11 of which had to be replaced. He told Mr Heneghan that Hutton and Howard were easily influenced when they were intoxicated and that a number of their previous convictions were drink-related.
Garda Ó Conghaile accepted that both co-operated fully with the Garda investigation and were sincerely remorseful.