Courts / Dublin / Report
Wheelchair-bound man set fire to take own life, court hears
Summary
Gerard Field, 28, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson at his own home and adjacent houses on 11 April 2015. He set fire to a bag of clothes in the back room of his downstairs with the intention of taking his own life, using no petrol or other flammable materials. Field, who uses a wheelchair and has spina bifida, hydrocephalus and mild cerebral palsy, had been depressed and had sought psychiatric help the day before the incident. He was severely injured, lost consciousness and was rescued by the Dublin Fire Brigade; his parents were taken to Beaumont Hospital and his sister suffered minor injuries. Field had no prior convictions. The court, after hearing his background and the lack of intent to harm others, imposed a five‑year suspended sentence and required him to engage with probation services for two years. The judge described the sentence as lenient given his circumstances and the seriousness of the offence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Wheelchair-bound man set fire to take own life, court hears. Charges or matters: three counts of arson at his own home and houses either side on April 11, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 11, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-10-28 Publication
Why: He required specific care because of the nature of his disabilities and spent time in St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park in Dublin after he was discharged from Beaumont Hospital. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: three counts of arson at his own home and houses either side on April 11, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan said it was not appropriate to impose a custodial sentence given the background of the case and Field's intention to hurt nobody but himself. Field was given a five-year suspended sentence and must engage with the probation services for two years.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Beaumont Hospital
- St Mary's Hospital
- later came to the garda station
- Phoenix Park
Topics
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