Two convicted of felling Sycamore Gap tree

deandean

I have a love of trees, and I've been watching this court case with interest.

So the UK police caught the two tossers who cut down that lovely Sycamore along Hadrians Wall. It was an act of wanton vandalism.

At least in the UK they'll serve decent prison time. If similar was to happen Ireland it'd be a suspended sentence.

o1s1n

Delighted to hear this.

Their actions really are peak 'this is why we can't have nice things'

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058409418/two-convicted-of-felling-sycamore-gap-tree

agree, over here it would be a suspended sentence and you’ve been very bold boys now don’t do it again. In lreland we have lovely mature trees being cut down left right and centre

igCorcaigh

Did the culprits get prison time?

IMHO community service or similar would be more suitable.

Not to belittle the act that they did, but the jails are full, and I'd be of the opinion that prison is more suited to those who commit crimes, especially violence, against a person.

road_high

I just don’t get why in the name of god they wanted to do this? It’s not like they were going to steal the tree and sell it for their own benefit. Seems just like pure wanton destruction just for the sake of it- which required a big effort to do

KaneToad

Prison time seems excessive, for me.

deandean

It was such a headline crime, and it made headlines worldwide. The UK courts seem to have discretion to make an example of offenders like this and apply an exemplary sentence. I anticipate they'll get 5yrs+ each.

ancapailldorcha

People like this really have nothing positive to contribute to society. I hope they get the maximum. It's such a pathetic and spiteful thing to do.

worded

They are grown adults and should have known better

I can't see them getting jail time 1+ years each minimum

StevenToast

They shouldnt serve time in prison...

I would be in favour of cutting off one of their limbs....let them decide which one.

Cùnts.

Kaisr Sose

It was the most bizarre thing to do, and for what reason or purpose? Senseless act

Glad they were caught, convicted and now facing jail time.

NIMAN

They were not the brightest guys tbh. Listening to their phone conversations told you all you needed to know.

I think they aren't being sentenced until July?

There was a debate on LBC radio today about it. The host was arguing the point that these guys will likely get prison time for vandalism on a tree, whereas many folk who actually commit assault on another human being don't go to jail. So we are saying a tree is more important than some people?

People got so angry about a tree they didn't even know existed until they saw it on the news.

Personally I think they will get something short, like 2yrs with last year suspended. As a warning to other idiots not to commit wanton vandalism.

...Ghost...

They destroyed an icon. They attacked something known and appreciated by millions. It was priceless and they did it out of spite. Prison should be for violent crime. This was an act of violence against society. Let them rot in prison until a new tree can grow to full maturity. Maybe then they might appreciate that such things don't happen overnight, unlike their criminal act.

Atlantic Dawn

Was watching one of the arsewipes walk in to court this morning, he had 2 hangers on walking with him as 'protection' from the media, one with a disposable vape in his hand that he must have thought was Cuban cigar levels of luxury.

Gamb!t

That tree was magnificent looking until they cut it down,what a shame.

I read there are shoots growing from the trunk but it will take 200 years to mature to that size the tree was ☹️

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123433873#Comment_123433873

They also harvested some saplings which will be planted across the country.

Still 150yrs of growing to get back to something like the original. It was just a beautiful tree in a wonderful location/setting.

SeanW

Absolute ****ing scum. This strikes me as an act of wanton vandalism, utterly indefensible. Throw the book at the cretins.

Royale with Cheese

Pair of fúcking scrotes, these people are the reason we can never have anything nice. Would love to have seen the look on their faces when they realised there would actually be serious consequences to this.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123434253#Comment_123434253

something seriously wrong with those two lads, jailing them may not have any consequences at all, as they may not have the self reflective abilities to realise their mistake, tis a very sad story

Esel

In their little brains, it was an 'operation'. They probably wore camo paint…

satguy

2 years in a cell might do them some good…

Strumms

look at the time and effort that had to have gone into doing it. Procuring enough saws or whatever, I doubt one or two would have sufficed …..The trunk of that tree where it was cut is gigantic…..

Go plan a holiday or a trip, start a football team, whatever… but no…. Destroy nature, nice one. Be interesting to see the sentence handed down. You know if it was here they’d have committed the crime there wouldn’t be a cat in hells chance of any sort of a custodial sentence.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123435182#Comment_123435182

very unlikely it ll have much positive effects at all, in fact, they ll probably be worse upon release

Jack Daw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123433838#Comment_123433838

They should have to do community service helping plant trees all over the region.

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058409418/two-convicted-of-felling-sycamore-gap-tree

They haven't been sentenced yet

Bogwoppit

I visited that tree many many times when I lived in the north east. It was a magical place, you could just feel the history and agelessness in the place.
There’s a cliff just to the west where I’d sit with my legs dangling over the drop, you can watch peregrine falcons trying to catch the fledgling jackdaws and rooks in the summer.
Fishing on the small lake below the cliff and chatting to the tourists who’d wander down to the lakes edge for a chat.
Everyone came there for the tree though.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123435466#Comment_123435466

This. Let them put some work into planting trees and that might give them a sense of what they've done.

People cut trees down needlessly all the time and no one bats an eyelid. A gym in Fairview cut down trees recently which weren't on land they owned. Nothing will come of it because they weren't iconic enough.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123435182#Comment_123435182

They won't grow lacking brain cells or increased IQ there. I think @magicbastarder may have the best suggestion. Planting trees.

magicbastarder

it was @Jack Daw who suggested it first!

deandean

I wouldn't even trust those tossers to plant trees. I remember this from many years ago:

In 1999, a gang of thieves was forced to do community service along a road in Rotherham. The next spring the daffodils coming into bloom spelt out the words ‘shag’ and ‘bollocks’.

Quantum Erasure

Mick and Paddy are in England in the 80s looking for work, see a notice saying "Tree fellers wanted."

"Would you look at dat, tree fellers," Paddy said to Mick. "What a pity dere's only de two of us."