A MAN WHO painted offensive slogans across the front of a Pakistani-run take-away after watching beheadings on television by so-called Muslim extremists has escaped a jail sentence.
Mark Hobbs, an Englishman living in Kilmallock, Co Limerick, had previously threatened to kill Ali Aslan, the owner of Megabites chip shop in Kilmallock, with a kitchen knife.
Hobbs said he had been influenced by watching TV regarding the murder of Afghanistan war veteran Lee Rigby.
Mr Rigby was hacked to death by two British Muslim men on a street in Woolwich, southeast London, in 2013.
Graffiti
Hobbs admitted painting the Megabites take-away with the slogans, “Pakis out now”, “Perverts”, “S**t”, and “C***s”, in white paint.
After his arrest, Hobbs, (50), told gardaí he believed Muslims wanted to “take over and kill” everyone.
Hobbs pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to causing criminal damage at Megabites chip shop in Kilmallock on 14 September 2014.
He was previously sentenced to 120 hours community service in lieu of a three-month jail sentence for a threat-to-kill offence in 2013.
Hobbs was clearly seen on CCTV cameras at Megabites daubing the premises with the offensive slogans.
At one point the footage showed him standing back and admiring his work.
Anti-Pakistani sentiment
After his arrest Hobbs told gardaí: “I know they’re anti-English people… [it's] because they are Muslims.”
Hobbs denied he was a racist.
He told gardaí: “I have a problem with [Muslims] abusing 10 or 11-year-olds, and chopping innocent people’s heads off.”
Michael Collins SC, prosecuting, told the court that Hobbs “expressed an anti-Pakistani sentiment throughout” his exchanges with gardaí.
“All they want to do is take over everywhere. All they want to do is kill us,” Hobbs told gardaí.
In court Hobbs apologised to Mr Aslan, the owner of Megabites, who was an entirely innocent party.
Hobbs told the court he was going through “a breakdown” at the time following the death of his father.
“I was watching television programmes about people getting their heads chopped off… stupid things,” he added.
I was staying awake for two to three days, drinking.
Alcoholism
The court heard Hobbs has been making efforts to deal with his alcoholism, for which he was given credit.
He was also given credit for his apology and for pleading guilty.
A charge of producing messages deemed to be “an incitement to hatred” was dropped yesterday at the last minute by the State.
Judge Tom O’Donnell said Hobbs’ actions were “outrageous in the extreme” and “extremely disturbing”.
“It has no place in a civilised society,” he said.
It was a despicable act.
However, the judge said Hobbs had “expressed remorse”.
“The person in court today is in a much better place, and he must be given credit for dealing with his addictions,” the judge added.
Hopefully he’ll become a more tolerable person.
Judge O’Donnell imposed a two-year suspended sentence.
He warned Hobbs: “Your conduct was outrageous, uncalled for, and, unnecessary. I’m giving you a chance; it’s up to you to take it.”
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