Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19890Criminal damage · Co. Longford

Longford man charged with graffiti on council wall at Fee Court

Donal Billings, a 73-year-old man of Fee Court, Longford, was arrested over graffiti on a Longford County Council wall at Fee Court on August 9, with the year not given in the reports. Gardaí on patrol had found him walking away from the wall with a paintbrush and a tub of paint, and he was later taken to Longford garda station for questioning. He was charged with criminal damage and pleaded guilty at Longford District Court in September 2023, and his defence said he acted to protest against anti-social behaviour near his home. The judge adjourned the case so he could make a €250 donation to Longford Tidy Towns, and he must return to court on January 2, 2024 to dispose of the case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Sep
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Donal Billings, 73, of Fee Court, Longford, was charged with defacing a Longford County Council wall with graffiti.
Where
The incident took place at Fee Court, Longford.
When
The incident took place on August 9; the reports do not give the year.
Cause
The defence said Billings acted to protest against anti-social behaviour near his home.
Investigation
  • Gardaí on routine patrol found Billings walking away from the wall with a paintbrush and a tub of paint.
  • Gardaí later arrested Billings and took him to Longford garda station for questioning.
  • The court was told Billings was not aggressive and co-operated with gardaí during his arrest and detention.
Charges
The charge was criminal damage.
In court
  • Billings appeared before Longford District Court on a Tuesday; one report places this on 5 September 2023 and another on 6 September 2023.
  • Billings pleaded guilty, and the judge accepted jurisdiction.
  • The court was told Billings had nine previous convictions.
Other details
Billings had been jailed in December 2016 for eight and a half years by the Special Criminal Court over a bomb placed on a bus during the Queen's visit to Ireland.
Sentence
  • The judge adjourned the case so Billings could make a €250 cash donation to Longford Tidy Towns.
  • Billings was ordered to return to court on January 2, 2024 to dispose of the case.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBillings was charged with defacing a Longford County Council wall with graffiti. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatBillings was charged with defacing a wall belonging to Longford County Council with graffiti. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Fee Court. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on August 9. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe defence said Billings acted to protest against anti-social behaviour near his home. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeDefence counsel said his actions were motivated by a desire to protest against anti-social behaviour near his home. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeDefence said Billings' actions were motivated by a desire to protest anti-social behaviour near his home. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on routine patrol found the accused walking away from a wall with a paintbrush and a tub of paint. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí later arrested Billings and took him to Longford garda station for questioning. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on routine patrol found him walking away from the wall with a paintbrush and a tub of paint. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí later arrested him and took him to Longford garda station for questioning. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on patrol came across Billings walking away from a wall with a paintbrush and a tub of paint. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí later arrested Billings and brought him to Longford garda station for questioning. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe charge was criminal damage. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBillings pleaded guilty after the judge accepted jurisdiction. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty after the judge accepted jurisdiction. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe court was told he had nine previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtBillings appeared before a sitting of Longford District Court on a Tuesday. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBillings pleaded guilty. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge adjourned the case so Billings could make a cash donation to Longford Tidy Towns. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceBillings was ordered to return to court with €250 on January 2, 2024, to dispose of the case. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge adjourned the case so he could make a cash donation to Longford Tidy Towns. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to return to court with €250 on January 2, 2024 to dispose of the case. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe case was adjourned to allow Billings to make a cash donation to Longford Tidy Towns. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceBillings was ordered to return to court with €250 on January 2, 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe court was told Billings had nine previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe court was told Billings was not aggressive and co-operated with gardaí during his arrest and detention. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherBillings had nine previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Sep2023
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford bus bomb man charged with daubing graffiti on council wall

    Reports the court appearance and guilty plea in a graffiti criminal damage case. The article gives August 9 without a year. The headline's bus bomb reference concerns a past conviction and is not part of this charge.

    accused, Donal Billings, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Donal Billings
  2. 7 Sep2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man from the Midlands who put bomb on bus during Queen's Ireland visit back in court

    Adds the guilty plea, the court's adjournment with a €250 donation to Longford Tidy Towns, the return date of January 2, 2024, the nine previous convictions, and the defence account of a protest against anti-social behaviour.

    accused, Donal Billings, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Donal Billings
  3. 6 Sep2023
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man who put bomb on bus during Queen's Ireland visit charged with defacing council wall

    Adds the court appearance at Longford District Court: Billings pleaded guilty, the case was adjourned, and he must return with €250 on 2 January 2024 to dispose of the case. Also gives the arresting details, the defence's account of motive, and his previous convictions.

    accused, Donal Billings, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Donal Billings