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Judge praises courage of garda who pulled man from burning home
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Joseph O'Connor, 41, to three‑and‑a‑half years for setting fire to his council house at Primrose Grove, Darndale, in an attempt to end his life. O'Connor had lit the fire early on March 31, 2020, and after failing to pass out, he alerted neighbours and was later found by Gardaí in a dispute. Garda Colin O'Shea entered the burning building, pulled O'Connor to safety, and the court noted the damage to the property was €24,660. O'Connor pleaded guilty to one count of arson; an obstruction count was considered. He had 34 prior convictions and had been in custody since the fire. Judge Nolan praised Garda O'Shea's courage, highlighted the reckless nature of the arson, and imposed a five‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, back‑dated to the time O'Connor first entered custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge praises courage of garda who pulled man from burning home. Charges or matters: one count of arson. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 31 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-03-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of arson (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: O'Connor had been struggling with drug addiction issues and was previously given a suspended three-year sentence for drug offences, the court heard. "He found himself in a situation where everything got on top of him and he felt the easiest thing to do was end his life," Mr Byrne said. The judge handed down a five-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions.
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