Irish Jewish Museum - Anti-semitic Attacks in 2005

Anti-semitic Attacks in 2005

In 2005, the museum was sprayed a number of time with anti-Semitic slogans and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, visited the museum to show his sympathy and to express his hope that the attacks were the responsibility of a very small group of people who would soon be brought to justice. In fact, the culprit, an individual, was identified from CCTV images and arrested. In his trial, his lawyers stated that the attacks where a result of his ongoing schizophrenia and he was sentenced to six months probation. Raphael Siev, curator of the museum, said the attacks had caused "great terror" and "great upset" but the trial judge prevented him from continuing, citing the uncertain legal status of victim impact statements in cases of this sort.