A 60-year old Tipperary anti-war protester who daubed red paint over the constituency office of the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, was fined €200 at Roscrea District Court today.
Mr Gillies MacBain, Crannagh Castle, Templetouhy was charged with causing damage to the front wall, office door and window at the Fianna Fáil centre, Rosemary Square, Roscrea, on March 22nd.
The defendant was caught by gardaí as he daubed paint all over the constituency office. He told arresting officers he had another tin of paint with him and that if they released him he was going to target the office once more.
Mr MacBain, who appeared in court, refused bail following the incident and maintained a hunger strike for a number of days after being remanded to Limerick Prison.
The court heard he caused €726.40 damage to the office. Mr MacBain disagreed with the figure and told Judge Mary Martin he was "neither in a position to pay the compensation or willing to do so".
Judge Martin also refused an application by Mr MacBain to invoke the principles of the 1950 Nuremburg Tribunal and warned him that she would not allow him to make any political statement regarding the War on Iraq to the court.
"In that case I have no choice but to allow this case to continue and appeal your judgment," Mr MacBain told the judge.
The court heard Mr MacBain had previous convictions for criminal damage to a garda vehicle, producing an article contrary to the Firearms Act and obstruction.
Judge Martin found Mr McBain guilty of the offence and fined him €200. She said he was entitled to an appeal once one third of a surety of €600 and independent surety of €600 were lodged in cash within the next 14 days.