Actor and stage hand went on spray painting spree in Tullamore after drinking 'far too much' whiskey

AN actor and a stage hand went on a spray painting spree in Tullamore last October, the local court heard during its sitting last week.

Before the court was Adam Coburn, 85 Oaklawns, Saint Alphonsus Road, Dundalk and his co-accused James Stanley, Carrigan, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan.

The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly told Judge Andrew Cody that his clients were pleading guilty to all the charges.

The court was told that the spree happened on Sunday night, Monday morning October 23, 2022 and October 24, 2022.

“Using two cans of spray paint,” Sergeant James O'Sullivan told the court, “they spray painted the bonnet of a car parked in the Bridge Centre Shopping Centre; the wall of the Bank of Ireland on Bridge St Tullamore  causing damage to the value of approx €250; the front door of Tullamore  Cinema, Bridge Centre Tullamore, causing €250 worth of damage; the wall of the Palace Bridge House Hotel Tullamore causing €250 worth of damage; and the entrance door of the Bridge Centre Shopping Centre costing €250. It cost €250 to remove the graffiti from each premises and €400 to remove the damage done to the parked car.”

Mr Farrelly said his clients had attended the Púca Spooka festival, “which was an artistic festival that took place in the town on Sunday, October 23.”

“My clients are both artists. James Stanley is an actor and Adam Coburn is an experienced stage hand. They had been working in their capacity as artists for a couple of days on the Púca Spooka festival.

“After the festival concluded they began drinking whiskey which they don’t normally drink. They drank far too much of it and they have very little recollection of what they did. They feel very ashamed of their actions.

“The total damage came to €1400 and they have brought €700 each to offer as compensation.”

“What was the graffiti?” asked Judge Cody. “Was it abusive?”

The Sergeant said it was just a meaningless scribble, adding that Mr Stanley had no previous convictions while Mr Coburn had five previous convictions including public order and intoxication in a public place.

Mr Farrelly said Mr Stanley is 30 years of age, and hopes to get work abroad in an acting capacity.

“He has no previous convictions and hopes to pay money to the Court Poor Box in order to avoid a conviction. He wants to act abroad.”

He added that Mr Coburn is 34 years of age and is a single man. He added that both men are currently unemployed because of the shifting nature of their professions.

Judge Cody ordered Mr Coburn to serve 100 hours of community service in lieu of one month in prison, and he ordered Mr Stanley to serve 50 hours of community service in lieu of 14 days in prison.