Courts / Dublin / Report
Mentally-ill man damaged de Valera headstone
Summary
John Moore, 59, pleaded guilty to criminal damage for breaking and painting over Eamon de Valera's headstone at Glasnevin cemetery on 25 January 2017. He fractured the four‑foot stone into two pieces and poured red paint on it, causing €5,675 in damage. Gardaí found him in the cemetery coffee shop with red paint on his hands and a hammer in his bag. Moore claimed he had long‑standing grievances against de Valera's policies, describing the former president as "sly and evil" and saying he "suffered through his policies". He had no prior convictions and was receiving medical care. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended two‑year sentence, noting it would be inappropriate to imprison him given his mental health difficulties at the time of the offence. The sentence was handed down in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mentally-ill man damaged de Valera headstone. Charges or matters: one count of criminal damage to the headstone of the former President at Glasnevin cemetery on January 25, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 25, 2017 Incident
- 2018-04-23 Publication
Why: He told them he broke the headstone in two because he had issues with de Valera's policies. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of criminal damage to the headstone of the former President at Glasnevin cemetery on January 25, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Handing down a suspended two-year sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said it would be inappropriate to impose a custodial sentence on Moore, given his mental health difficulties at the time of the offence. "It was the irrational act of a person having great difficulties in his life," Judge Nolan said.
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