Joseph Lawrence jailed for arson at Balbriggan apartment complex

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

Joseph Lawrence was sentenced to four years, with the final 16 months suspended, for arson at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 16 December 2014. The fire at McNeil Hall apartment complex in Balbriggan caused €115,000 worth of damage.

Lawrence had pleaded guilty after admitting that he and another man set chairs alight in a vacant apartment. The court heard that he had been drinking and taking cocaine, while turpentine was used to accelerate the fire.