Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Damaging certain historic monuments

30.—(1) A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any protected monument—

(a) knowing that it is a protected monument; and

(b) intending to destroy or damage the monument or being reckless as to whether the monument would be destroyed or damaged,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) This Article applies to anything done by or under the authority of the owner of the monument, other than an act for the execution of excepted works, as it applies to anything done by any other person.

In this paragraph “excepted works” means works for which scheduled monument consent has been given under this Order (including any consent granted by order under Article 5).

(3) In this Article “protected monument” means any scheduled monument and any monument under the ownership or guardianship of the Department.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.