Courts / Wexford / Report
Arsonist who 'destroyed' victim's livelihood has jail sentence increased to nine years
Summary
In a December 2018 Christmas arson spree, 34‑year‑old Graham Shannon set fire to three cars and an auto‑body garage in Wexford, destroying the owner's livelihood. He pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage. The State appealed the original cumulative sentence of three and a half years, arguing it was unduly lenient and that the four arsons should carry consecutive sentences. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, quashed the original sentence and imposed a new nine‑year term: four years for each of the first three vehicle arsons (concurrent) and six years for the garage arson (consecutive), with the final year suspended. The decision was based on the financial loss to the garage owner, the "revenge" element, and Shannon's extensive criminal history, including 82 prior convictions and multiple serious offences. The suspended year was back‑dated to April 7, 2022.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Arsonist who 'destroyed' victim's livelihood has jail sentence increased to nine years. Charges or matters: four counts of criminal damage at The Brambles, Old Ross, on Christmas Eve 2018, at Cassagh on the same date and criminal damage at Furlong's Auto Body Repair Shop in Ballywilliam on St Stephen's Day 2018. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 7, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 23, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- Christmas Other
- Christmas Eve 2018 Other
- 2023-12-19 Publication
Why: The garage parts owner could not receive full payment from his insurance company because it involved a deliberate act on behalf of Shannon. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: four counts of criminal damage at The Brambles, Old Ross, on Christmas Eve 2018, at Cassagh on the same date and criminal damage at Furlong's Auto Body Repair Shop in Ballywilliam on St Stephen's Day 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: On the fourth sentence for the burning down of the garage, Ms Justice Kennedy said a sentence of four years with six months suspended had been imposed. She then suspended the final year of the sentence in the interests of Shannon's rehabilitation and backdated it to April 7, 2022.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- 'Come out, you Indians. I'll show you': man accused of racist attack in Cherrywood
- Judge criticises 'appalling' behaviour of violent criminal who 'upped and left' court before murder sentence handed down
- 79-year-old man jailed for raping teenage girl in 1994
- Life for 'Monster' who smiled at partner as he slit their eight-year-old girl's throat
- Father admits to murdering daughter (8) and attempted murder of her mother
- Woman who pretended to be knife victim during hold-up is jailed
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request