Donegal man who cut down Eircom pole avoids jail

A Donegal man caring for his 96-year-old mother who cut down an Eircom pole continued to attack the company’s property on his land after he was already summoned for the first offence.

Robert Carpenter, aged 46, who admitted damaging the property on his land at Ballymanus, Mullaghduff, Kincasslagh, said he did it because he was infuriated by the bills sent to his mother.

Judge Paul Kelly was told yesterday about the added offences. The judge noted at Dungloe District Court that a total of €15,000 damage had been caused and the service to four local phone users was disturbed.

Supt David Kelly said that, between mid-April and mid-May, a tractor wheel was set alight on top of an Eircom manhole and the heat caused €300 damage.

When it was repaired, it was reopened during the following weeks and broken glass was thrown in, causing €1,500 damage. Later, the same manhole was filled with soil, causing €1,500 damage.

Defence solicitor Cormac Hartnett said

his client was in the mistaken belief that he was entitled to take down these things on his own property,” adding, “He is not the four by four regular individual. He is not a regular character.”

Judge Kelly imposed a 10 months suspended prison sentence.