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Jail for man who caused €500k in damage to M50 toll system
Summary
Tony Rochford, aged 50, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment after he climbed the M50 gantry, cut wires, smashed sensors and damaged fuses on the eFlow toll collection system. His actions left the system out of operation for 26 hours and closed the northbound carriageway for three hours in June 2017, causing an estimated €619,000 in losses. Rochford admitted the offence and said he hoped the disruption would draw media attention to his concerns about a 2002 fire at the Verdemont Apartments, where two people died, and a recent fire at a Blanchardstown apartment complex. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property belonging to Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The court, noting his prior convictions and his motivation, imposed the custodial sentence after a hearing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who caused €500k in damage to M50 toll system. Charges or matters: criminal damage to the eFlow toll collection system, property of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, at the eFlow toll gantry on the M50 north bound on June 16, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 16, 2017 Other
- 2018-06-01 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: criminal damage to the eFlow toll collection system, property of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, at the eFlow toll gantry on the M50 north bound on June 16, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan took into account the mitigating circumstances, Rochford's motivation and personal circumstances and imposed a two and a half year custodial sentence.
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