Courts / Dublin / Report

Man was suffering from delusions when he threw petrol bombs at house

Summary

Andrew Brett, 38, of Kilworth Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging a property by fire on 1 January 2013. He threw two petrol bombs at the front of Audrey Maher's house, which was unoccupied that night. The bombs, made from fruit‑juice bottles filled with white spirits, left scorch marks on the windowsill of a front window. Brett was arrested after neighbours flagged him down; a strong smell of accelerants and his out‑of‑breath state prompted a medical assessment. He was involuntarily admitted to the psychiatric ward of St James's Hospital. A medical report concluded that Brett was suffering from delusions at the time of the offence. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to a three‑year suspended term, with strict conditions including liaison with the Probation Service for two years. The sentence was suspended in full, and Brett was required to comply with day treatment, medication and abstain from alcohol.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man was suffering from delusions when he threw petrol bombs at house. Charges or matters: damaging a property by fire on January 1, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 1, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-11-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Read the original CNI report