Probation for painting swastikas

A man who painted swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti on the Jewish museum in Dublin last year was placed on probation for six months yesterday.

David Hughes (41), Fair Street, Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared at Balbriggan District Court charged with vandalising the Irish-Jewish Museum at Walworth Road on May 11th and June 14th last year.

The court heard there were previous attacks, which involved daubing swastikas and SS logo on the museum's walls.

Hughes had been identified on CCTV camera.

Alison Brennan, for Hughes, told Judge Bryan Smyth her client was receiving "ongoing psychiatric treatment" for schizophrenia and that the attacks on the museum followed a "severe bout" of the illness.

Raphael Siev, curator of the museum, said the attacks had caused "great terror" and "great upset". Judge Smyth stopped him from describing further the impact on the Jewish community saying there were current "reservations in relation to victim impact statements".