Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentence for arsonist over homeless accommodation fire

Summary

Graham Fitzgerald, 22, and his cousin Gary Fitzgerald, 21, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an arson at Green Hills Court Apartments in Tallaght on March 26, 2015. Graham Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to arson and an attempted robbery at Milanos in February 2016. Gary Fitzgerald also pleaded guilty to the arson charge. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Graham's case had been adjourned on successive occasions, most recently to encourage engagement with the Probation Service. She cited his young age, drug use, and antisocial peers at the time of the offences, alongside psychological vulnerabilities. The court accepted tangible evidence that Graham was now drug-free. Judge Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Gary Fitzgerald, who had seven previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for the arson offence. The court heard that the fire caused €45,000 in damage to an unoccupied apartment in a Focus Ireland complex, forcing an evacuation. While Gardaí could not establish the exact cause of the fire, CCTV identified the defendants as intruders. Graham had four previous convictions, including criminal damage, and was on bail for the arson when he committed the attempted robbery.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for arsonist over homeless accommodation fire. Charges or matters: arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght on March 26, 2015 and attempted robbery at Milanos, Abberley Square North, Tallaght on February 14, 2016; arson. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• March 26, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 14, 2016 Adjournment
• 2018-06-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial Theft

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Read the original CNI report