Protestor who threw soup on painting at Cork gallery has sentencing delayed for psychiatric report

A CLIMATE change protestor who threw soup on a painting in the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork will not be sentenced until October 12 as a psychiatrist’s report on him has not yet been completed.

Judge Marian O’Leary requested the psychiatrist’s report after being told of a prior history of mental health difficulties experienced by Thomas Shinnick.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said the psychiatrist confirmed that the accused was doing well, but that a report on him was not yet available.

Judge O’Leary put sentencing in the case back until October 12 to allow time for the psychiatrist’s report to be presented to Cork District Court.

Inspector Brendan McKenna previously said the 27-year-old also faces sentence for another incident where he resisted arrest, refused to give his name, and engaged in threatening behaviour, where he boarded a Bus Éireann bus at Model Farm Rd, Cork, refused to pay the fare and refused to leave the bus.

Insp McKenna said Shinnick narrowly missed punching the garda who responded to a call to the bus on May 3, 2022, and said to the officer: “You are lucky I didn’t stab you, I’ll stab you the next time.”

Accused 'doing better'

Mr Kelleher had previously said the young man was not in any kind of trouble with the courts until the age of 24 when his mental health issues arose.

Mr Kelleher said this culminated in him falling out with his family in Buttevant and sleeping rough on the streets of Cork and with Cork Simon Community.

However, Mr Kelleher had said the accused had been doing much better this year, and had been in accommodation in Charleville for a number of months.

He said Thomas Shinnick was being supported by his parents who would repay the €450 to the gallery for the damage to the painting.

And he said a scheme operated partly under the Simon Community was also offering him support.

The defence solicitor said the defendant was studying and ultimately hoping to find employment.

Criminal damage to painting

Shinnick pleaded guilty earlier in the year to causing criminal damage and being in possession of a screwdriver.

Thomas Shinnick addressed the court earlier this year and said: “I did no damage to the painting which was behind glass.

“I would never have done it if it wasn’t behind glass.

“I did not kill anyone, but climate change will.

“I recognise that it is a ridiculous action and I am not saying everyone should be throwing soup at paintings.

“I am not a criminal.

“I am a scared little kid trying to fight for their future.

“I would describe what I did as disruptive, non-violent direct action.”

Thomas Shinnick, who is originally from Kilcolman West, Buttevant, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing criminal damage to the painting — George Atkinson’s Anatomical Study — at the gallery on Emmet Place, Cork.

The painting is protected by glazing.

The painting was not permanently damaged, but the clean-up cost €450.