A man allegedly carried out an attack on Belfast’s iconic Big Fish sculpture which inflicted more than £10,000 worth of damage, a court heard today.
Englishman Peter Luke Smith, 44, is accused of targeting the famous city centre landmark while equipped with a hatchet, hammer and a sledgehammer.
Ceramic tiles around the left eye of the 33-feet-long statue located on Donegall Quay were smashed during the incident at the weekend.
Smith, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody on charges of criminal damage and three counts of possessing an item with intent to damage property.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he accepted the offences, but has provided no explanation for his actions.
Police were called to the scene of the incident at around 12.30am on Sunday.
A member of the public said they witnessed the defendant using a long-handled object to damage the statue and detained him until officers arrived.
He was carrying a backpack which was found to contain a hammer and small hatchet.
“While assessing the damage to the Big Fish police located a sledgehammer in a nearby bush close to the defendant,” a PSNI constable said.
“The cost of the damage has been estimated at over £10,000.”
Opposing bail, the officer claimed Smith has an extensive record in England for relevant offences.
She added: “This is a high-value damage to this public piece of art, so there’s a risk of him not returning.”
Defence barrister Garrett O’Kane argued Smith did not try to use the items against the person who detained him.
Counsel told the court his client flew over to Belfast last week and spent a number of days staying in an Airbnb accommodation.
“He said he found these items and he is accepting this offence,” Mr O’Kane disclosed.
With no alleged motive provided at this stage, the barrister set out how Smith was under the care of psychiatric services in the Peterborough area.
Bail was refused due to the risk of Smith either re-offending or fleeing.
Remanding him in custody until October 19, District Judge Steven Keown said: “This is an appalling set of facts against somebody with an appalling record who has little or no ties to this jurisdiction.”
