"Disturbing and disgusting": Five men charged after cenotaph damaged
<p>Five men have been arrested and charged after the cenotaph in Martin Place was vandalised in Sydney's CBD over the weekend.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The group is accused of vandalism that damaged the soldier's bayonet.</p>
<p>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".</p>
<p>Josh Gilbertson apologised for his role in the display and blamed it on excessive alcohol use.</p>
<p>“One too many drinks and before I knew it the boys were up there and I just decided to follow,” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/" target="_blank">7NEWS</a>.</p>
<p>“To all the diggers that served our country, I’m very thankful for what you’ve done.</p>
<p>“If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t do it again of course.”</p>
<p>One man, aged 21, was on Monday afternoon charged with damaging property and committing an offensive act on a war memorial.</p>
<p>He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on June 28.</p>
<p>Three others, aged 19, 20 and 21, were issued court attendance notices for desecrating a protected place.</p>
<p>The fifth man, also 21, was issued a court attendance notice for offensive conduct.</p>
<p>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”.</p>
<p>“It’s a very special memorial and it’s a special memorial for all Australians. Not just veterans, but all Australians,” he said.</p>
<p>Earlier Premier Gladys Berejiklian also condemned the vandalism, saying it’s important to understand the sacrifices made by veterans.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“Anyone who defaces what is sacred to all of us will receive the full force of the law,” Berejiklian said.</p>
