Courts / Kildare / Report
Arsonist who caused almost €400k in damage spared jail
Summary
Joseph Cooney, aged 22, pleaded guilty to arson of a shed behind the Salmon Leap pub and a house on Main Street in Leixlip in November 2012, causing almost €400,000 in damage. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the sentence in full after Cooney accepted a Garda's view that the arson was a one‑off "act of madness". At the hearing, Nolan ordered Cooney to spend two weeks in jail to reflect on his future if he fell from grace again. Cooney was told to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the five years of his suspended sentence. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and had many good references, which contributed to the mitigation. The court noted that Cooney and a co‑accused were "basically on drugs for the night and were bored and decided to liven up their lives by setting properties on fire".
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Arsonist who caused almost €400k in damage spared jail. Charges or matters: arson of a shed behind the Salmon Leap pub in Leixlip and a house on Main Street in the town on the town in the early hours of November 25, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 25, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 10th Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-11-24 Publication
Why: But he said "half of Leixlip" could have been burnt down and innocent people could have died because of Cooney's "gross error of judgement". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: arson of a shed behind the Salmon Leap pub in Leixlip and a house on Main Street in the town on the town in the early hours of November 25, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but suspended it in full after he accepted a garda's view that the arson was a one-off "act of madness". Today Cooney, of St Finian's Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin, was told to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the five years of his suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
- Main Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Main Street
- Leap
- The house
Topics
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