The trial has begun of a Co Mayo man caught destroying GPS cables as part of a spate of vandalism offences at substations and telecom masts across two counties.
Adrian Behan (44) pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 33 offences carried out at 10 different locations in counties Mayo and Galway between September 8 and October 31, 2023.
Behan, with an address at Ballyfarna, Belcarra, Castlebar, is facing 23 criminal damage charges and 10 counts of theft in relation to the alleged incidents.
He was arrested after gardaí caught him in the act of cutting GPS cables belonging to Eir at Lavybeg, Charlestown on September 13, 2023, Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Giving evidence at trial, Detective Garda Keith Coleman said Behan stole electrical fuses and lengths of fibre optic cable, cut wiring and GPS cables and damaged antennae, metre boxes, fuse boxes and MCB fuses.
The equipment that was either damaged or stolen all belonged to service providers including RTÉ, ESB, Mayo County Council, Eir, Vodafone and Three Ireland.
The court heard that multiple service providers lost signal as a result of the offences, causing widespread transmission failures.
The jury of seven men and five women were shown the type of electrical fuses that were either damaged or stolen.
In Mayo, the incidents took place at substations, radio masts and telecoms sites at Carrowmore, Manulla; Brookhill, Claremmorris; Ballyclogher, Balla; Cloonkeen, Castlebar; Croaghmoyle Booster Station; Harrington’s Quarry, Kilkelly; Knockmoyleen, Ballyheane and Churchfield, Knock.
In Leenaun, Clifden, Co Galway, fibre optic cables and MCB fuses were damaged while two fuses were stolen between September 9 and 10, 2023, the court heard.
The trial continues before Judge Eoin Garavan and is expected to finish this week.