Courts / Dublin / Report
Hen party-goer used bottle of Prosecco to set camper van alight
Summary
Rebecca Coates, aged 45, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on 10 March 2019. She set fire to her sister's camper van after a verbal disagreement at a hen party in the city centre. Coates used an empty bottle of Prosecco and nail polish remover as an accelerant, intending to frighten her sister. The fire was discovered by her nephew, who extinguished it, and the damage amounted to €800. Judge Pauline Codd noted Coates' mental health decline following her daughter's suicide in 2017 and her history of domestic violence. She sentenced Coates to four years' imprisonment, suspended in full, with strict conditions including compliance with the Probation Service for two years and payment of €800 to the prosecuting Garda within six months. The injured party may nominate a charity to receive the money.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Hen party-goer used bottle of Prosecco to set camper van alight. Charges or matters: arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on March 10, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 10, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-07-28 Publication
Why: Rebecca Coates (45) used the empty bottle and nail polish remover in order to light a fire because she wanted to give her sister "a fright". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on March 10, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced Coates to four years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentence in full on strict conditions including that she follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years.
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