Courts / Galway / Report
Family escaped death 'by grace of God' after Galway arson attack
Summary
PJ Lyons received a global eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to an arson attack on a house in Castlepark, Ballybane, where Mary Sweeney and her four children were asleep. The family escaped through an upstairs window, were treated for smoke inhalation and lost their possessions; Judge Brian O'Callaghan described the risk to their lives as shocking.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Family escaped death 'by grace of God' after Galway arson attack. Charges or matters: a charge of arson carried out on February 3, 2022, at a house in Castlepark, Ballybane, Galway; having an instrument in the form of petrol on February 11, 2022, on the outskirts of Galway City; a most shocking set of offences. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 3, 2022 Incident
- February 11, 2022 Other
- March 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2028 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-03-25 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: a charge of arson carried out on February 3, 2022, at a house in Castlepark, Ballybane, Galway; having an instrument in the form of petrol on February 11, 2022, on the outskirts of Galway City; a most shocking set of offences (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He set a global sentence of eight years, which he backdated to March 2023 when Lyons went into custody on these matters. Mr Colgan said Lyons is currently serving a prison sentence in Mountjoy Prison, where he shares a cell with four others.
Places mentioned
- Galway
- Galway Circuit Court
- Galway Circuit Criminal Court
- Galway University Hospital
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
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