Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial arsonist set garda's private car alight

Date
2024-02-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Keith Riggs, 40, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to arson, threats to kill and threats to cause damage. He set a Garda's private car on fire on 13 August 2020 while the owner was on patrol outside Bridewell Garda Station. Riggs poured accelerant from a Dunnes Stores bag under the car, igniting it and leaving the vehicle to burn. CCTV captured the act; forensic DNA linked Riggs to the bag and gloves. He also threatened to kill the owner of his apartment and to burn down Bridewell Garda Station. Riggs had previously been convicted of arson at a Dublin homeless hostel in March 2022, which left a 22‑year‑old woman with catastrophic injuries. He is already serving a nine‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for that offence. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced him to four and a half years imprisonment, to run concurrently with his existing term.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial arsonist set garda's private car alight. Charges or matters: arson, making threats to kill and threats to cause damage three years before the Depaul arson. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
August 13, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
September 3, 2020 Incident
2024-02-16 Publication

Case subjects

Keith Riggs

Defendant

Charges: arson, making threats to kill and threats to cause damage three years before the Depaul arson (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Keith Riggs (40), of Deanstown Avenue, Finglas, Dublin 11, is already serving a nine-and-a-half year jail sentence for setting fire to a Dublin homeless hostel, leaving a 22-year-old woman with catastrophic injuries. Judge Duffy sentenced Riggs to four and a half years imprisonment.