The relatives of dead people whose tombs were damaged and remains disturbed by a group of men in a drunken night-time search for valuables in 2003 were still "very upset", Tralee Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Judge Carroll Moran, remanded the three on continuing bail and recommended two of the men undergo treatment for alcohol addiction. He adjourned sentencing until July 7th next.
The three, Alan McNulty (29), of Moreen Road, Sandyford, Dublin, Mathew O'Donnell (24), of Aughills, Castlemaine, and no fixed abode and John Smith (32), of Moreen Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin, had pleaded guilty to damaging the tombs of Cyril McEnery and Timothy Browne at Raheala Graveyard, Ballyduff on the night of August 4th, 2003.
They had further pleaded guilty to disturbing and/or interfering with the remains of Bridie Fitzmaurice, who had died eight months previously, and to disturbing the remains of Jack Browne who had died in 1998.
Smith also pleaded guilty to damaging the tomb of the late Bridie Fitzmaurice.
Coffin lids had been prised open and discarded on the floor of the above-ground tombs and the shrouds and remains pulled back. The charge of disturbing bodies had not been before the courts since 1880, in London.
In all, some six people were involved in the events at Raheala cemetery. One had not been prosecuted and two had been dealt with in the Juvenile Liaison Scheme, the court heard.
Probation reports, by three different officers, on the men were handed in to the court. The court heard that John Smith had undergone four weeks treatment for alcohol addiction and that Mathew O'Donnell and Alan McNulty both still had serious alcohol problems. O'Donnell had broken a shop window in January while on bail and drunk. He had pleaded guilty to this in the District Court.
Judge Moran noted the probation officers in the cases of Alan McNulty and Mathew O'Donnell had recommend residential care for their addiction. He ordered gardaí to amend bail terms for O'Donnell to allow him to attend a residential centre for treatment.