Courts / Dublin / Report

Six-year sentence for homeless man who set fire to flat

Summary

Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Six-year sentence for homeless man who set fire to flat. Charges or matters: criminal damage by arson at Rathmines Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin, on August 21, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 21, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 23, 2017 Other
• 2018-12-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report