(Students Darren Martyn (top) and Donncha O Cearrbhail,above left).

Justice Ryan  adjourned the case until October to let them each bring €5,000 to court to pay for the damage to the Fine Gael site. She also asked the Probation Service to prepare a restorative justice report on the hackers.

This can involve a meeting between the offender and the victim to discuss the impact of the crime as well as a letter of apology and an action plan of activities.

The judge indicated that if the money is paid and the report is positive, the Probation Act would be applied which would see the students spared custodial sentences and criminal records.

Students admit hacking FG website before election (irish Times)

Seriously Sam writes:

Am I the only one who is disgusted at Fine Gael pushing this one through the courts where they claim it cost 10k to put back up their crappy site and are making these kids pay 5k each, and go through humiliating apology letters crapola?
Hacking = bad. Agreed.
But small stunt and overreacting establishment using the FBI (FFS!) to track down some young folks for embarrassing the establishment….