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Arsonist who set four cars alight was hit by coal truck as child

Summary

Michael Farrell, 26, of Montpellier Gardens, Dublin, was convicted after a three‑day trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of arson during two separate incidents on 11 and 18 January 2017, and of two counts of unauthorised interference with a vehicle during the 11 January incident. He set four cars on fire, causing over €10,000 in damage, and attempted to gain access to two additional cars on the first date. The judge, Karen O'Connor, sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, provided he keep the peace, be of good behaviour and engage with probation services for eighteen months after release. Farrell's lawyers argued that a childhood brain injury sustained when he was hit by a coal truck at age five left him with a mild intellectual disability and an IQ of 60, making him highly suggestible.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Arsonist who set four cars alight was hit by coal truck as child. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• January 11 Incident
• January 11, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 18, 2017 Incident
• 2018-10-19 Publication

Why: His lawyers argued that because of the childhood brain injury. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report