Man tags Florida homes with antisemitic graffiti, then flees to Northern Ireland, cops say
A 71-year-old man accused of spray painting antisemitic graffiti on Florida homes and businesses was arrested in Northern Ireland on an Interpol warrant, deputies said.
Liam Mackin lived in Flagler Beach but left the country after officers obtained an arrest warrant for him in connection with the vandalism, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office news release.
“Mackin’s actions incited fear within our community,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the March 14 release. “There are no borders when it comes to stopping criminals from terrorizing our community.”
According to deputies, Mackin was seen on security cameras in November 2023 tagging a total of six businesses and homes with “prejudicial hate graffiti targeting the Jewish community.”
Mackin was charged with criminal mischief ($1,000 or more) – evidencing prejudice while committing an offense, but authorities said they believed he was hiding abroad.
Northern Ireland authorities told the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office that he had been arrested on March 14, deputies said.
He is being extradited back to Flagler County, which could take up to six months, according to deputies.
“Mackin thought fleeing to Ireland would prevent him from prosecution; he thought wrong,” Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Man tags Florida homes with antisemitic graffiti, then flees to Northern Ireland, cops say."
