Three men were remanded in custody to Limerick prison last night to await sentencing on December 7th for damaging tombs and interfering with the remains of two people in a Co Kerry graveyard. Anne Lucey reports.
Judge Carroll Moran said at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court that it was "a shocking offence, offensive to any sense of decency". Two other offenders have been dealt with under the Juvenile Liaison Scheme .
Alan McNulty (29), of Moreen Road, Sandyford, Dublin; Matthew O'Donnell (24), Aughills, Castlemaine, and no fixed abode; and John Smith (32), Moreen Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin, pleaded guilty to damaging the tombs of two men at Raheala Graveyard, Ballyduff, on August 8th, 2003.
They also pleaded guilty to disturbing the remains of a woman, who had died eight months previously, and to disturbing the remains of a man who died in 1998. Smith also pleaded guilty to damaging the tomb of the woman.
Previously the District Court heard the charge of disturbing bodies had not been before the courts since 1880 in London.
Sgt Brendan Sheehan, of Ballyduff Garda station, said that tombs had been broken into. Coffin lids had been prised open and the shrouds over the remains pulled back.
The three co-operated on being arrested. They had been "out of their heads" on drink and ecstasy tablets, Sgt Sheehan said. They said they were looking for jewellery. No valuables were removed. There was no evidence of pre-planning.
All of the three had a number of previous convictions, the court heard. Smith was "a chronic alcoholic" who had drunk redundancy money and was unemployed. He was ashamed at what he had done.
McNulty was on long-term disability payments and had a long term struggle with drink and drugs. He had very little recollection of the night. O'Donnell, the youngest, had been "out of his box" on the night, his barrister said. He was intellectually challenged and had had "a rough life".