A Wicklow man today became the first person to be convicted of causing an anthrax scare in the Republic.
William Douglas, 20, from Coolgreaney Park, Arklow, Co Wicklow, admitted causing a public mischief by placing a container of white power in the Youth Reach organisation's office in Arklow last week. He was arrested on Tuesday.
Gorey District Court heard that Douglas was a gullible young man of very low intellect. Mr Douglas’s father said his son had a mental age of 13 or 14.
Judge Donnacha O Buachalla said he would not free Douglas because of the severity of the matter and remanded him in custody for a week to await sentencing.