DUBLIN, Ireland: Irish Rail incurred over 26,000 euros in damages due to a series of graffiti incidents carried out by a 24-year-old man, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Rokas Kalytis admitted to multiple counts of criminal damage committed between January 2020 and May 2022, including defacing the interiors of train carriages and an underpass at Connolly Station using permanent markers.

Kalytis was sentenced this week to 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison term. Judge Elva Duffy warned that failure to complete the service or any further criminal behaviour would result in the prison sentence being enforced.

The court heard that Kalytis caused 10,800 euros in damage to internal train panels in January 2020, followed by 11,500 euros in repairs after a similar incident in October that year. In January 2022, Irish Rail spent another 3,500 euros after a further act of vandalism. Additionally, 500 euros were spent repairing graffiti at Connolly Station's underpass.

CCTV footage captured Kalytis in the act on several occasions, and Irish Rail staff later identified him. During a search of his home, gardaí recovered clothing, permanent markers, and handwriting samples linking him to the crimes.

After moving to the Netherlands, Kalytis voluntarily returned to Ireland and met with gardaí for an interview in March 2024. He gave full admissions, stating that graffiti was a form of self-expression.

Kalytis has nine prior convictions, including for criminal damage. Garda Karl Bolger described him as cooperative and apologetic, and he entered an early guilty plea.

The court heard Kalytis had a troubled upbringing, including time in foster care and periods of homelessness. He had been living with a friend in Co Meath but was asked to leave after gardaí executed a search warrant at the property.

Defence counsel noted that Kalytis previously received a community service order for a similar offence but left the country before completing it. He has since contacted the Probation Service to resolve this, although the original order has now been struck out.

A probation report submitted to the court was described as "positive in parts," though it noted Kalytis's continued cannabis use. He was employed full-time until recently and has since obtained a Safe Pass to work in construction.

Defence counsel added that Kalytis has taken steps to turn his life around, is showing greater maturity, and a forensic psychological report assessed him as posing a low risk of reoffending.