A man who was one of a group of three that slashed 128 tyres because of “some sort of complaint they had about capitalism” has been given a suspended sentence.
Michael Somers (25), Tara Hill Road, Rathfarnham, caused €22,314 worth of damage to the vehicles the group targeted that night. He later told gardaí that they only selected vehicles that were registered after 2003.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of criminal damage on September 18th, 2007.
Judge Martin Nolan noted that Somers was “motivated by some political belief that there is too great a disparity of wealth in the world”.
“That may be the case but I don’t see how the slashing of tyres could help that situation.”
Judge Nolan said Somers who had not been in trouble since was “going in a good direction” and imposed a three-year suspended sentence with 18 months probation supervision.