Eoin Berkeley (pictured) from Hamptonwood Way, Finglas, Dublin 11 has pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the facade and panels of the George bar, George’s Street.

The twenty-four-year-old from Finglas was accused of drawing a Nazi swastika alongside the words ‘Fag Bar’, ‘Faggot Bar’ and ‘Faggots’ in chalk on the outside of The George on May 22, 2017.

Mr Berkeley appeared before Judge Victoria Blake this afternoon where defence council Jane Horgan-Jones confirmed the not guilty plea.

Reports on GCN back in May stated that all three of The George’s security cameras captured the incident, and the footage was passed along to the Gardaí.

The DPP has instructed that the case is heard in the district court and would not go forward to the circuit court, which has a tougher sentencing.

At the district court level, a maximum sentence of one year can be carried.

The vandalism occurred as LGBT people in Ireland celebrated the two-year anniversary of the passing of the marriage equality referendum.

Speaking after the event, manager of The George Darragh Flynn said that the chalk daubings were the first incident of vandalism since 2015’s referendum.

“Before the referendum, our windows at the front would get broken on a regular basis, but since the referendum that hasn’t happened,” said Flynn.

“Things are getting better. It’s not an overnight change, it’s a gradual change, but I believe we are moving towards full acceptance. It will maybe take a generation but it’s getting better.”

A trial has been set for the 1st of February.