Men who painted out Queen Victoria's name on Cork street signs are 'of utmost sincerity'

Rather than imposing a sanction the judge ordered each man to pay €250 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a charitable contribution

(Left to right) Antoin Breathnach, Tom O’Connor and Diarmaid O Cadhla outside court where they denied criminal damage to street signs at three separate locations in Cork city on February 2, 2017. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts

Three men who denied causing criminal damage by blackening out the name Queen Victoria on Cork street signs were described by the judge who heard their case as people of the utmost sincerity.

However, Judge Paul Kelly said: “That does not entitle them to break the law in furthering their convictions. I accept they did not go out to cause wanton vandalism. It was very precise damage in furtherance of a particular view but that is not permissible. I have to find the facts proved.”