Sean Cullen, with an address at Hope Avenue, East Wall, was handed a four year suspended sentence following the incidentin 2021.
A graffiti artist who assaulted a train driver after being caught spray painting carriages at an Irish Rail depot has been given a four-year suspended sentence.
22-year-old Sean Cullen, of Hope Avenue, East Wall, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to assault and two counts of criminal damage.
On the 25th of September 2021, Sean Cullen and another man were spotted acting suspiciously by an Irish Rail train driver at Fairview DART depot.
When he approached them, a physical altercation developed, during which Cullen pepper-sprayed him in the face, before fleeing on foot.
He was later identified by CCTV and during a search of his home in May 2022, gardai found spray cans and other graffiti tools.
He caused €60,000 worth of damage, with Irish Rail estimating an additional €40,000 in related costs.
Cullen said he developed a fascination with graffiti art culture, inspired by a 1970s movement in New York, but never imagined the cost would be so high.
In his defence, he came to court with a letter of apology as well as €2,000 in compensation for the train driver he assaulted.
The judge remanded him in custody earlier this week to teach him a lesson but today handed down a 4-year sentence, which he suspended in full.
