Davin Flynn wins appeal against six-year arson sentence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal ruled that Davin Flynn’s six-year arson sentence should be set aside because the sentencing judge had given insufficient weight to his rehabilitation. Mr. Justice Edwards delivered the judgment on 4 December 2015.

Flynn had pleaded guilty to one count of arson under sections 2(1) and 2(4) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed six years’ imprisonment on 16 February 2015, running from that date. The proceedings were reported on 4 December 2015.

The judgment said Flynn and another man deliberately set fire to the Nirvana head shop at 164 Capel Street, Dublin 1, in the early hours of 12 February 2010. The psychotropic substances sold there were legal at the time.

The fire spread to two neighbouring premises. Five fire brigade units and 26 firefighters attended, nearby apartments were evacuated, and all three affected buildings had to be demolished. Damage to the buildings exceeded €1 million.

The defence relied on a psychologist’s report emphasising Flynn’s efforts at rehabilitation and a letter from Ushers Celtic Football Club confirming his sporting skills and good standing with the club.

This case may have concluded differently. The outcome has not yet been confirmed by a public source we could find.