Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for homeless man who set fire to bins to heat sleeping bag

Date
2019-04-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Dwayne Barry, a 30‑year‑old former homeless man, was sentenced to three years in prison for arson at two Dublin locations. He set wheelie bins on fire to heat his sleeping bag, then tried to extinguish the flames when they spread. Barry pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, where a blaze on 25 January 2016 caused €45,000 damage to two cars, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge, where a fire on 28 February 2016 caused structural damage of over €18,000. He has 86 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and criminal damage. Judge Karen O'Connor, after multiple adjournments, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, acknowledging Barry's genuine remorse and willingness to engage with addiction services. The judge noted the seriousness of arson and the difficulty of controlling fire, and accepted Barry's apology and attempts to put the fires out.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for homeless man who set fire to bins to heat sleeping bag. Charges or matters: arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, causing €45,000 damage to two cars on January 25, 2016; arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge which caused structural damage of over €18,000 on February 28, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 2017 Adjournment
January 25, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
February 28, 2016 Adjournment
2019-04-10 Publication

Why: Gda Folan said about a week later he stopped Barry in the Ranelagh area because he was wearing matching clothes and had a bicycle similar to the person in CCTV footage of the arsons. CNI source report

Case subjects

Dwayne Barry

Defendant

Charges: arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, causing €45,000 damage to two cars on January 25, 2016; arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge which caused structural damage of over €18,000 on February 28, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Today she sentenced Barry to three years in prison but suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions.; Judge Karen O'Connor had adjourned the case a number of times since hearing the evidence first in December 2017 to give Barry an opportunity to engage with addiction services.