John Moore, 57, of Clontarf, is charged with causing criminal damage to Éamon de Valera’s headstone at Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin. He told the court he does not have a solicitor and when asked by Judge Anthony Halpin if he would like to get one, Mr Moore replied: ‘No, I just beg for forgiveness, it was a moment of madness, I painfully regret doing it.’

Moore was ordered to stay away from Glasnevin Cemetery, as well as, having no contact with the de Valera family, and not possessing any assets belonging to the family.

He said the ban from Glasnevin Cemetery “has been torture” as he has a child buried there.