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Convicted murderer jailed for burning down family home days after prison release

Summary

Stephen Rock, 51, was sentenced to ten years in prison for setting fire to a house on Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, on 12 July 2014. The blaze destroyed the home, killed a family pet, and caused an estimated €40,000 in economic loss, excluding personal property. Witnesses saw an object resembling a shoe box burning in the window, and Rock was observed near the house that night. The Nolan family, who lived there, were forced to relocate; Maureen Nolan was assaulted by Rock earlier that day, and her daughter Leanne Nolan attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue her brother. Rock, a former life‑sentenced murderer who escaped in 1999 and was released on full temporary release four days before the incident, denied starting the fire. The court noted his prior convictions and the seriousness of his actions, and Judge Patrick McCartan condemned his conduct before imposing the sentence. Stephen Rock was found guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Convicted murderer jailed for burning down family home days after prison release. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• July 12 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 08, 2014 Incident
• 2005 to 2014 Incident
• 2016-01-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report