Three men have been ordered to pay compensation to the providers of mobile telephone equipment after they pleaded guilty in a district court to damaging a telephone mast and cabin in Kerry.
More than €170,000 worth of damage was done to the mast and equipment at Lahard, Beaufort on May 12th/13th last year, Killarney District Court heard.
Garda Insp Michael O'Donovan said yesterday the 25ft mast had been unscrewed at its base.
The three men, Pádraig Kelly, (21) Inisfail, Beaufort, John Clifford (21) Carnahone, Beaufort and Michael Sweeney (22) Lahard, Beaufort pleaded guilty to damaging and intending to damage an equipment cabin containing equipment belonging to Mr Ian Duggan and O2 Communications Ireland Ltd. They also pleaded guilty to damaging a tower belonging to Mr John Maher and Kiolpa Group Ltd, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1991.
The mast was so near the Sweeney house it was "almost in their back garden", Mr Sweeney's solicitor said, and his client, who had lost his father to cancer in 1990, was deeply traumatised by this. Insurance companies had paid some compensation to the owners for the damage, the court heard.
Judge Angela Condon ordered all three defendants to pay €5,000 each in compensation - most of it to Kiolpa Group, with O2 to get the rest. She fined the men €300 each.