"Disturbing and disgusting": Five men charged after cenotaph damaged
Five men have been arrested and charged after the cenotaph in Martin Place was vandalised in Sydney's CBD over the weekend.
Police on Monday appealed for public to help identify the men seen on CCTV climbing on the cenotaph and sitting on the shoulders of the bronze statue of a soldier about 3:10 am on Saturday.
The group is accused of vandalism that damaged the soldier's bayonet.
The five men turned themselves in to the police after a few short hours and one even issued an apology on camera to "all the diggers".
Josh Gilbertson apologised for his role in the display and blamed it on excessive alcohol use.
“One too many drinks and before I knew it the boys were up there and I just decided to follow,” he told 7NEWS.
“To all the diggers that served our country, I’m very thankful for what you’ve done.
“If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t do it again of course.”
One man, aged 21, was on Monday afternoon charged with damaging property and committing an offensive act on a war memorial.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on June 28.
Three others, aged 19, 20 and 21, were issued court attendance notices for desecrating a protected place.
The fifth man, also 21, was issued a court attendance notice for offensive conduct.
The act of vandalism sparked outrage, with RSL NSW President Ray James telling 7NEWS it was “disturbing and disgusting” and was a “personal attack on all members of the community, all members, all Australians”.
“It’s a very special memorial and it’s a special memorial for all Australians. Not just veterans, but all Australians,” he said.
Earlier Premier Gladys Berejiklian also condemned the vandalism, saying it’s important to understand the sacrifices made by veterans.
“I think it’s really hurtful that a small number of Australians don’t appreciate the sacrifices many Australians made, who lost their lives and lost their livelihoods over many, many decades for our freedoms,” Berejiklian told reporters.
“It’s incumbent on us to make sure that every single Australian citizen is aware and grateful for the sacrifices made by our ex-servicemen and women.
“Anyone who defaces what is sacred to all of us will receive the full force of the law,” Berejiklian said.