Two anti-war activists who sprayed slogans protesting the war in Iraq were fined €400 each in Waterford District Court.
Mr John Cloone,(53) an unemployed docker, 114 Ballybeg Close and Mr Roy Hassey (26) an office manager, 11 Briot Drive, Kilbarry, were charged with criminal damage at Dock Road in Waterford City on December 19th, 2002.
The court heard that Garda John Killeen and Garda Verena Fenlon saw the two men spraying slogans on Dock Road at 12.45 a.m.
The slogans included 'No To War,' 'No Blood For Oil' and 'Don t Attack Iraq'. An aerosol can was taken from Mr Cloone.
Inspector Tom King informed the court that the cost to clean the wall was estimated at €800 plus 13.5 per cent VAT.
Mr Pat Newell, solicitor for the defendants, said they were long term activists for the anti-war movement and had participated in marches. They believed strongly in their cause. They wished to raise public awareness of the problem and were using the slogans as a means of putting the issue into the public domain, he added.
Judge William Harnett said he was disgusted at the means the two men had employed to express their views. It was "an idiotic concept" to justify vandalising property as the expense of taxpayers as a means of informing the public of views on the war against Iraq.
"Do you think the public are stupid? That they can t read newspapers? That it is not public knowledge", asked the Judge.
Fining the pair €400 each, the District Court Judge advised the anti-war demonstrators to use newspapers, radio or public meetings to outline their views and their concerns to the general public but told them they "were not entitled to damage property".