Two youths who smashed 36 windows on a DART train with emergency hammers, causing over €40,000 of damage, have each been handed four year sentences.
Sean Howard (20), of Killary Grove, Donaghmede and Jason Hutton (19) of Redmond's Court, Kilbarrack caused passengers to be sprayed with shattered glass as the train pulled out of the station.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Michael White jailed Howard for four years saying he had a substantial record of 16 previous convictions and had previously 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.