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THREE men who organized a campaign of political protest against the so-called ‘Queen of Hunger’, Queen Victoria, by damaging prominent posters bearing her name, will be subject to the Parole Act if they agree to make a charitable donation.
Judge Paul Kelly ruled in the Cork District Court that he found the facts to be proven, as outlined by the State, against Diarmuid O’Cadhla (59), Tom O’Connor (59) and Anthony Walsh (55).
All three were charged with defacing the street signs around Cork three years ago, all of which bore the name of Queen Victoria.
The trio denied two counts of criminal damage to street signs along Victoria Road.
They also denied two counts of criminal damage to street signs along Victoria Cross and one count of criminal damage to a sign on Victoria Street, which is just off Military Hill.
Mr. O’Cadhla of Beaumont Drive, Ballintemple, Cork, Mr. O’Connor of Mangerton Close, The Glen, Cork and Mr. Walsh of Carrigmore Park, Ballinlough, Cork denied the criminal damage charges related to the three locations on February 2, 2017.
All charges were brought by the State against the Criminal Damages Act of 1991.
Judge Kelly said he found the facts to be proven.
However, he said that, given the general circumstances, he was willing to apply the Parole Act which allows the three men to avoid convictions.
The parole law will apply if the three agree to pay 250 euros each to a charitable cause, Saint Vincent de Paul.
Judge Kelly said the described payment should be made by December 16.
He said he would give the three men time to consider their decision and, if they wish, to make the donation.
Gardaí told the court that the Cork City Council had filed a formal complaint for the destruction of a total of five street signs in three different locations.
In each case, a single word “Victory” had been deliberately painted on the street signs.
This was even done for posters that were in Irish.
Gardaí explained that their investigations led them to a group called the Cork Street Names Campaign (CSNC).
CSNC objected to the British Queen being commemorated or honored in any way in Cork through street names because of her actions during the Great Famine.
Queen Victoria became known as the ‘Queen of Hunger’ in Ireland for her inaction or intervention to help prevent millions from starving, dying of disease or being forced to emigrate.
Cork City Council had to remove the street signs in question for restoration and the repair work involved cost € 800.
O’Cadhla said commemorating Queen Victoria in any way in Cork was an insult to all the victims of the famine in Ireland.
O’Connor said his actions represent “justice for the Irish people.”
Mr. Walsh said he was “killed (in) my soul” by the council’s decision to rededicate an entire section of downtown as “The Victorian Quarter.”“
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