Courts / Dublin / Report

Decision to drop arson charges reversed after victim complained, accused claims

Summary

In February 2022 the Court of Appeal considered a case where a man had been charged with arson for setting fire to a house in Dublin in 2018, where his partner and child were inside and the door was wide open. The charge was initially dropped, but after a victim complained to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the DPP reviewed the case and recommended the charge be reinstated. The man, who cannot be named, applied for a judicial review of the DPP's decision to prosecute him a second time, but the application was refused. He then appealed, arguing that the DPP had erred in law and fact, had misinterpreted the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, and that multiple contrary decisions breached fair procedures. The unnamed appellant had the case struck out.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Decision to drop arson charges reversed after victim complained, accused claims. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Struck out

When:

• May 2021 Other
• March 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2019 Incident
• June 27 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 20, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-02-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Arson Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report