Midlands man appears before Laois Offaly judge on graffiti charge

AN Athlone man was charged with six acts of criminal spray painting in Birr during last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court. 

Before the court was Paul Lanier, Coolaleena, Glasson, Athlone. He is alleged to have committed the following offences: 

On November 1, 2022 at Lyndon’s Flats, Keal's Archway Birr he spray painted a wall with the word “APERS”, belonging to Thomas Lyndon. 

Sometime on November 1 or 2, 2022 at St Brendan’s Park Birr GAA, Roscrea Road, Birr he spray painted a wall and a turnstile with the word “APERS”, belonging to St Brendan’s GAA Club intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.” 

Sometime on November 1 or 2, 2022 at Doctor McAuliffe’s Surgery, Green St, Birr he spray painted the wall of the surgery with the word “APERS”. 

Sometime on November 1 or 2, 2022 at Church Lane, Birr he spray painted the word “APERS” on a side door belonging to the HSE. 

Sometime on November 1 or 2, 2022 at To Go Main Street, Birr he spray painted the wall of the property with the word “APERS”, belonging to Eoin Garry. 

Sometime on November 1 or 2, 2022 at Shop and Hotel Supplies, Brendan St, Birr spray painted the wall of a building belonging to Michael O’Connor with the word “APERS”. 

Judge Andrew Cody asked Mr Lanier what the acronym APERS stands for. The defendant said it stands for “All pursue easy routes to success”. 

“I would suggest,” commented the Judge to Donal Farrelly, the defendant’s solicitor, “that he abandons this particular version of what he thinks to be successful ways of acting and adopt more positive ways of behaving, ways of behaving which really are in fact successful.”

The Judge adjourned the case to a hearing at a future date.