Courts / Meath / Report
Man jailed for setting fire to former fiancee's house to get balance of sentence suspended following appeal
Summary
Darren Rafferty, aged 40, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 5 June 2014 for setting fire to his former fiancée's house in Navan on 14 January 2013. The arson caused about €79,000 of damage to the conservatory, kitchen and house, and four units of the Navan fire brigade attended the scene. Rafferty was arrested at 3.20 a.m. the same day, was intoxicated and could not be interviewed, but later confirmed he started the fire, left the house and returned to the pub, citing frustration over the breakup. He pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. On 10 July 2015 the Court of Appeal, hearing Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence but suspended the balance from 31 July, allowing Rafferty to pursue a job offer in the UK. He was ordered not to contact his former fiancée again.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for setting fire to former fiancee's house to get balance of sentence suspended following appeal. Charges or matters: arson at the home of his former fiancee in Navan on January 14 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 14 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 5 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 31 Incident
- 2015-07-10 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: arson at the home of his former fiancee in Navan on January 14 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment by Judge Michael O'Shea on June 5 2014. Recognising the seriousness of the offence, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court would leave in place the three-and-a-half year sentence but would suspend the balance from July 31 next to allow Rafferty take the opportunity of a job offer in the UK.
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