Man sprayed graffiti on a parochial house in north Louth

A 32-year-old man who sprayed graffiti on a parochial house in north Louth, was convicted in Australia of arson, Dundalk district court heard last week.

James McArdle of Villas Isis, Dulargy, Ravensdale, who appeared by videolink, pleaded guilty to entering the curtilage of the parochial house in Ravensdale on January 14th last and damaging the exterior wall of the parochial house with paint on the same date.

Court presenter Sgt Richie Browne outlined how gardai had received a report of James McArdle entering the grounds of the property and he was captured on CCTV footage walking up the laneway and spraying graffiti on the wall.

He was known to the injured party and was wearing the same clothing as in the CCTV footage when gardaí searched his home.

Sgt Browne added that the making of a victim impact statement had been canvassed but it was not forthcoming.

He said Mr McArdle has a number of previous convictions - two in this jurisdiction from 2016 under the Road Traffic Act for failing to produce insurance and driving without a driving licence, but he described those in Australia as quite significant.

Judge Nicola Andrews replied “They are arson” and recalled how she had heard evidence in relation to those in a bail application for a separate previous matter, which Sgt Browne said was withdrawn by the State.

The court heard the defendant had been convicted in Melbourne Magistrates Court in August 2023 of burglary, criminal damage by fire, the theft of two motor vehicles and two counts of unlawful assault for which sentences totalling seven months and 28 days were imposed, with 228 days spent in custody taken into consideration.

Defence counsel Niall Mackin BL said his client had alcohol in his system on the night in question, he had been feeling stressed and anxious over the Christmas period and has been in custody since January 16th.

He added he had got a job bricklaying before he went into custody and is hopeful of being able to take it up on his release from prison.

The lawyer said his client has an eight week old child and hopes to be a substantial father figure to them and stressed that “becoming a father has changed his perspective”.

Judge Andrews imposed a six month sentence with the final two months suspended for 24 months and remanded him in custody until next Wednesday (February 11th) when he will appear in person to sign a bond to be of good behaviour during that period.