John Kelly, 51, was found guilty of arson for setting fire to his family home in Bruhenny, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork, on 18 December 2016. At the time, four children aged 11, eight, six and two were inside. He was sentenced by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence. The judge noted that Kelly had returned home for Christmas holidays, an argument with his wife had escalated, and he felt "a fool was being made of him" on her Facebook page. He set two fires upstairs, removed the children, locked the door, and set a third fire downstairs. The house was destroyed, and the family relied on HSE accommodation. Kelly pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and was described as a good supporter for his family.
Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.
Warren Nolan, 22, of Rowlagh Park in Clondalkin, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Alan O'Neill and setting fire to a vehicle. The jury returned a majority verdict of eleven to one on the murder charge and a unanimous verdict on the arson charge. Nolan had pleaded not guilty to both counts. The court heard that O'Neill was shot dead in the driveway of his home in Tallaght on May 27, 2015, in front of his partner, Michelle Usher. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage, forensic analysis of firearms residue on gloves, and petrol traces on Nolan's clothing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jurors for their service in a difficult trial and exempted them from jury service for ten years. Maddie Grant BL, for the prosecution, stated that O'Neill's family will make a statement to the court on January 14. On that date, Mr Justice McDermott will sentence Nolan to the mandatory term for murder of life imprisonment. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with the final disposal scheduled for January 14.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul McDermott explained that a jury could find 22‑year‑old Warren Nolan guilty of impeding an investigation even if they are not convinced he was the gunman. Nolan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Alan O'Neill, 35, on 27 May 2015, and to the arson of a car at Belfry Square. The judge outlined that the jury has three options for the murder charge: guilty, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of impeding an investigation under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. He noted that if the jury is not satisfied that Nolan fired the shots, they may consider whether he burned the car to aid the getaway or destroy evidence. The prosecution's case relies on circumstantial evidence and alleged lies told by Nolan in Garda interviews, which the judge said must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
During a murder trial, Michelle Usher, a mother of three, testified that her partner, 35‑year‑old Alan O'Neill, was shot to death at the front door of their home by a "young boy" in dark clothes. Usher said she initially thought the gunshots were a joke until she heard a third shot and saw O'Neill screaming in pain. She described seeing a dark‑clothed figure approach the garden, fire a gun, and then flee in a people carrier that took off. Usher held O'Neill in the doorway as another shot shattered a hallway window. She called an ambulance and kept the children in bed. The accused, Warren Nolan, 22, has pleaded not guilty to O'Neill's murder and to a separate arson charge. The trial is before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 November 2018, Wong Chung Sing, a 28‑year‑old Malaysian national, pleaded guilty to possession of almost €100,000 worth of cannabis. The drugs, valued at €98,530, were found in a black bag he carried across the city to a second man for a fee of about €100. Garda Donal O'Sullivan, on plain‑clothes patrol, observed the transaction at a Tesco store and stopped both men. Sing claimed he was asked to transport the bag and that he had no prior convictions. During his custody, Sing alleged that a cellmate set his mattress on fire, an act he described as an attempt to set him on fire. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin adjourned sentencing to 14 November 2018. The case remains pending as of the hearing date.
Michael Farrell, 26, of Montpellier Gardens, Dublin, was convicted after a three‑day trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of arson during two separate incidents on 11 and 18 January 2017, and of two counts of unauthorised interference with a vehicle during the 11 January incident. He set four cars on fire, causing over €10,000 in damage, and attempted to gain access to two additional cars on the first date. The judge, Karen O'Connor, sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, provided he keep the peace, be of good behaviour and engage with probation services for eighteen months after release. Farrell's lawyers argued that a childhood brain injury sustained when he was hit by a coal truck at age five left him with a mild intellectual disability and an IQ of 60, making him highly suggestible.
The Court of Appeal has substantially increased prison sentences imposed on two men convicted of setting fire to a vehicle containing a bound and gagged prisoner in the boot. Polish nationals Kamil Lacki and Krzysztof Niepogoda, with addresses in Co Carlow, had pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to arson, false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and cannabis cultivation at various locations in late December 2015. The Circuit Court imposed six years imprisonment with the final year suspended. On appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the three-judge court described the offence as akin to attempted murder and "unbelievable". The appellate judges found the original headline sentences significantly too low. Lacki was resentenced to nine years imprisonment, while Niepogoda received ten years, with an additional consecutive twelve-month term for a subsequent assault on the same victim. The court noted the victim's escape was possible only because duct tape had been removed to allow questioning.
In July 2018, a homeless Dublin man, Alan Jackson, 32, set fire to an acquaintance's flat on Rathmines Avenue, causing damage exceeding €29,000. Jackson, who had no fixed abode and a history of 50 convictions, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson on 21 August 2017. He had previously received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The victim, Patricia Martin, and her daughter were forced to leave their 17‑year home and seek emergency accommodation. Jackson threatened to burn the flat after a phone call and was found with a burning wooden stick, which he claimed was for protection. He later wrote a letter from prison expressing remorse and claiming he only wanted to "get back" at Martin. The court, hearing the victim's impact statement, remanded Jackson in custody and will finalize the sentence in December. The case highlights the severe breach of trust and the ongoing legal proceedings.
Anthony McDonnell, a 27‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for arson after a Supreme Court‑ordered retrial overturned his 2014 acquittal. The original trial had acquitted him because the prosecution failed to produce evidence of how the CCTV system operated, making the footage inadmissible, and because alleged admissions during Garda interviews were ruled inadmissible under the right‑to‑silence rules. The Supreme Court held that CCTV footage was real evidence and that Gardaí could question McDonnell about his presence at the crime scene. McDonnell pleaded guilty to setting fire to a car that caused €77,000 of damage to an apartment block and destroyed two vehicles. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year sentence, suspending the final two and a half years, and ordered 18 months of probation supervision and mandatory training.
Graham Fitzgerald, 22, and his cousin Gary Fitzgerald, 21, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an arson at Green Hills Court Apartments in Tallaght on March 26, 2015. Graham Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to arson and an attempted robbery at Milanos in February 2016. Gary Fitzgerald also pleaded guilty to the arson charge. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Graham's case had been adjourned on successive occasions, most recently to encourage engagement with the Probation Service. She cited his young age, drug use, and antisocial peers at the time of the offences, alongside psychological vulnerabilities. The court accepted tangible evidence that Graham was now drug-free. Judge Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Gary Fitzgerald, who had seven previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for the arson offence. The court heard that the fire caused €45,000 in damage to an unoccupied apartment in a Focus Ireland complex, forcing an evacuation. While Gardaí could not establish the exact cause of the fire, CCTV identified the defendants as intruders. Graham had four previous convictions, including criminal damage, and was on bail for the arson when he committed the attempted robbery.
Two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time of the offence, were given suspended sentences after they "thrashed" a metalwork room at Oberstown detention centre for three hours, using hammers to smash items and causing €14,290 of damage. The boys threatened their teacher and refused to leave the room when asked by staff and Gardaí, leading to the Public Order Unit's intervention. They pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 14 June 2017. The older boy, now 17, has 36 prior convictions including criminal damage, arson, vehicle seizures, theft and public order offences; the younger boy, now 16, has 28 prior convictions including criminal damage, robbery, burglary, threat to kill and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence on the 16‑year‑old and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the 17‑year‑old, both suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision.
Michael Rae, 38, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to arson at Knockmore Park on 26 May 2017, when he set fire to a car outside a family home using a makeshift petrol bomb in a plastic bottle. The incident, described by Judge Melanie Greally as an "extraordinarily dangerous" offence, was linked to a history of discord between Rae and the Brazil family. Rae was found intoxicated, with a slurred voice, and fled the scene after the car caught fire. CCTV from a petrol station and a nearby house showed Rae filling the bottle, setting it alight, and running to the Brazil house. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and was ordered not to approach the Brazil house or family for five years. The car, valued at €750, was written off and the house suffered smoke damage. Rae has 29 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, assault and criminal damage.
Dermot Griffin, 58, of Ballyfermot, was convicted of manslaughter after setting fire to a makeshift den on Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, on 1 September 2001, killing 12‑year‑old Stephen Hughes. The 13‑day trial concluded with a 15‑year prison sentence imposed by Judge Patricia Ryan on 23 June 2014. Griffin appealed the conviction and sentence, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal in March. The court upheld the 15‑year term, citing the extreme recklessness of the offence and the high harm caused by the death of a child. Evidence included footage of an unidentified man, later identified as Griffin, approaching the den at about 5 a.m. and the den catching fire immediately. Witnesses, including former partner Tracy Deegan and others, testified that Griffin had left the house twice that night and intended to burn the hut.
Two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time, used hammers to "thrash" a metalwork room at Oberstown detention centre for three hours, causing €14,290 of damage. They threatened their teacher and smashed items, threw objects, and used fire extinguishers, resulting in extensive damage. The boys were removed by the Public Order Unit after staff and Gardaí were alerted. Both pleaded guilty to criminal damage at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 14 June 2017. The older boy, now 17, has 36 prior convictions including criminal damage, arson, vehicle seizures, theft and public order offences; the younger boy, now 16, has 28 prior convictions including criminal damage, robbery, burglary, threat to kill and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to review reports and structure a suitable sentence. The boys admitted their roles, and Gardaí noted no injuries occurred.
Patrick Morgan, 28, was jailed for five years after he hit and killed jogger Karl Robertson, 28, in a hit‑and‑run on Hazelwood Drive, Artane, on 8 March 2017. Morgan, who had no fixed abode and had been disqualified from driving, failed to stop, offer assistance or remain at the scene. He later drove his van to a nearby housing estate and set it alight "out of panic." He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop, failing to offer assistance and leaving the scene. The court noted Morgan's 47 prior convictions and three previous disqualifications. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, a ten‑year driving disqualification and highlighted the aggravating factors of speed, disqualification, escape and destruction of the vehicle. The Robertson family expressed deep anger and grief, describing their son as caring, diligent and loving.
Jack Walsh, 19, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an 11-hour disturbance at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus on August 29, 2016. Walsh pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two charges of criminal damage, admitting he was present during the incident which caused €3 million in damage. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, ordering Walsh to be of good behaviour for that period. The sentence was backdated to May 2. Three other youths, Clayton Brennan, Nathan Ginty, and Luke Cronin, also pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage, and violent disorder. It was accepted that Cronin's plea was based on adding fuel to the fire rather than starting it. Brennan had seven previous convictions and was on remand; Ginty had 22 previous convictions. A 17-year-old defendant, who also pleaded guilty to the same charges, had 22 previous convictions and was on remand. The cases of Brennan, Ginty, Cronin, and the 17-year-old were adjourned for sentence to Friday, June 1. The court noted the youths had destroyed or attempted to destroy the institution, with the judge describing the event as a frightening rampage.
Anthony McDonnell, 26, pleaded guilty to arson after the Supreme Court overturned his 2014 acquittal. He set fire to a car in the car park of an apartment block, causing about €77,000 in building damage and destroying two cars. The original trial judge, Sarah Berkeley, had acquitted him because CCTV footage was deemed inadmissible and alleged admissions during Garda interviews were excluded. The Supreme Court ruled that CCTV footage is real evidence and that Gardaí could question McDonnell, ordering a retrial. McDonnell pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He later committed a robbery in May 2017 and was sentenced to four years and six months in February 2018. The court adjourned the case to July and ordered a report from the prison governor. The case is referred to as the AMcD case.
The Northern Irish authorities have assured a High Court judge that Raymond O'Neill, 38, will be properly assessed and cared for at Maghaberry Prison if surrendered. O'Neill faces murder and arson charges over the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, who was stabbed and burned in her Hazel View house in August 2015. He was arrested in Dublin on February 3, 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, opposed surrender, arguing a real risk of inhuman and degrading treatment and citing his vulnerability and threats to his life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought information on conditions at Maghaberry; the State's counsel, Elva Duffy, provided documents on prisoner assessment and care for vulnerable inmates. Cummings noted a 2017 report highlighted serious deficiencies in care. Donnelly said she would consider the matter further, noting the impact of Brexit, and remanded O'Neill in custody until June 11 for related cases.
Patrick Stokes, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to arson, assault, false imprisonment and other offences. He set fire to his partner Louise Kavanagh's home in February 2017, causing €21,000 in damage, and later threatened to kill her, their six‑month‑old baby and himself if she left him. Stokes held Kavanagh's throat, threatened to rape her, and held a knife to the baby's chest while she tried to protect the child. He also punched her ribs and threatened to slit her and the baby's throat with a broken wine bottle. Kavanagh suffered a black eye and rib injuries and described the assault as terrifying. The judge noted Stokes' violent background, substance abuse and loss of control, and accepted his apology and desire to reform. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused.
In a January 2016 incident at Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, Dublin, 22‑year‑old Sam Mooney and 20‑year‑old Craig Mooney, both described as highly intoxicated, attacked a patrol car. They threatened the gardaí, undressed entirely, spat on the windscreen, and kicked and punched the vehicle for several minutes. The brothers shouted abusive language and threatened to "kick their heads in." They were arrested after the gardaí called for assistance. Sam Mooney pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a garda patrol car; Craig Mooney, already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for arson, was also charged. At the hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a 14‑month prison sentence on Sam Mooney, suspended in full for 15 months, citing his "horrendous intoxication." Craig Mooney received a one‑year suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months, with probation supervision.
In December 2017, a former Dublin homeless man, Dwayne Barry, aged 29, was found guilty of arson at two Ballsbridge locations. Barry had set wheelie bins on fire to warm his sleeping bag, and when the fires spread he attempted to extinguish them. He pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrook Park, Ballsbridge on 25 January 2016, causing €45,000 damage to a Porsche and BMW in a double garage, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge on 28 February 2016, causing structural damage of over €18,000. Barry has 86 prior convictions. Garda Martin Folan, after reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing Barry, noted Barry's cooperation and efforts to improve his life, including addressing alcohol use and planning to take his Leaving Cert. Judge Karen O'Connor postponed sentencing to March and ordered a probation report. The case remains pending sentencing.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2017, Clare County Council sought an injunction against Helen and Bernard McDonagh, members of the Irish Traveller Community, who had moved their caravans onto a site on Ashline, Kilrush Road in Ennis. The council claimed the site, earmarked for 40 new social housing units, was a health and safety hazard for the McDonaghs, citing lack of running water and sanitation. The council argued it had no traveller‑specific accommodation to offer and that the site had previously been used for Traveller accommodation but had been vacant after a suspected arson attack. The McDonaghs' lawyer, Niall Buckley, requested time to prepare a sworn statement and noted the council had not terminated a tenancy agreement with one of the McDonaghs. The council had offered the family a private rented four‑bedroom house in Ennis, which the McDonaghs refused, and said it was prepared to offer one of the new social housing units.
Craig Mooney, 20, and Sam Mooney, 22, of Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage to a garda patrol car on January 17, 2016. The court heard that the brothers, described as highly intoxicated and blood-spattered, kicked, punched, and spat at the vehicle while threatening officers. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a one-year suspended sentence on Craig, consecutive to his current two-and-a-half-year prison term for arson. The sentence was suspended for 18 months with probation supervision. Craig is currently serving his existing sentence and was due for release in October 2018. The judge adjourned Sam's sentencing until January 15, 2017, to assess his suitability for community service. Prosecution evidence detailed the brothers' abusive behavior and undressing in the street. Defense counsel highlighted Craig's ADHD, prosthetic eye, and productive custody regime, while noting Sam's intoxication, recent detoxification, and head injury from an assault. Both men have previous convictions, including affray and criminal damage. The matter regarding Sam remains pending further assessment.
The High Court in Dublin adjourned the extradition case of Raymond O'Neill, 38, who is wanted by the PSNI for murder and arson in the 2015 killing of Jennifer Dornan, 30, in Belfast. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant and is also sought for another unrelated matter. His barrister, Caroline Cummings, argued that surrender would expose him to inhuman and degrading treatment in Maghaberry prison, citing his medical vulnerability and threats to his life. Justice Aileen Donnelly sought further information on prison conditions and expressed concern over specific deficiencies affecting vulnerable prisoners. The court noted that the 2017 prison report did not adequately address these risks. The case, also touching on Brexit implications, will be mentioned again on 22 January after O'Neill remains in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dayle Devoy, aged 22, was sentenced to 16 months in custody for possessing 84 rounds of firearm ammunition at his family home. Devoy claimed he had discovered the stash while walking in a park. Detective Garda David Charles reported that he and colleagues found the ammunition during a search of Devoy's home, uncovering 14 rounds of 9mm Luger, .38 Special Short and .22 long rifle ammunition. Devoy pleaded guilty on 18 February 2016 and has 12 prior convictions, all at district court level, for offences including drugs and arson. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Devoy was holding the ammunition for third parties and that he was aware of its intended use in killing, injuring or threatening people. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, ordering 20 months of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Bernard Condon SC.
John McGovern, 25, set fire to the Station Hill apartment complex in Clongriffin, Dublin, causing €1.25 million in damage and leaving 25 people temporarily homeless. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of assault on his partner, Gráinne O'Brien, on 1 November last year. The court found the arson a very serious offence because it placed residents' lives at risk. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced McGovern to six and a half years' imprisonment, suspended the last 12 months, and imposed a two‑year period of good behaviour and supervision by Probation Services. McGovern had 26 prior convictions, including theft and public order offences, and had been in custody since the incident. The fire was extinguished after four‑and‑a‑half hours, with no injuries, but six homes were destroyed and many residents suffered financial and emotional hardship. The judge noted McGovern was making good use of his time in custody and seeking rehabilitation.
In a High Court hearing on 2 November 2017, Justice Aileen Donnelly examined whether to extradite Raymond O'Neill, a 38‑year‑old Belfast man, to Northern Ireland for murder and arson charges linked to the 2015 killing of Jennifer Dornan. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities. He raised three objections: the impact of Brexit, insufficient linkage to the offences, and a real risk of inhuman treatment in Maghaberry prison due to his vulnerability. The judge rejected the Brexit and linkage objections, citing prior decisions and sufficient detail in the warrants. She expressed concern over Maghaberry's safety, citing a 2016 report that highlighted high violence levels and deficiencies for vulnerable prisoners. A 2017 report was deemed inadequate. A further hearing is scheduled for 12 December, with O'Neill remanded in custody until then.
In 2014, Dermot Griffin, aged 57, was found guilty of manslaughter after a 13‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the 2001 fire that killed 12‑year‑old Stephen Hughes. The jury, composed of six men and six women, returned a verdict of guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Griffin to 15 years' imprisonment. Griffin has now appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal. His counsel, Bernard Condon SC, argued that the prosecution's case was a "three‑legged affair", citing inconsistent statements from three witnesses who admitted drug use and had altered their accounts over time. Condon also highlighted a partner's testimony that Griffin had spoken of burning the den, which was not corroborated by police interviews. The prosecution, represented by Mary Rose Gearty SC, countered that additional evidence, including testimony from Jason Lambe, supported the original verdict. Judge George Birmingham has reserved judgment on the appeal.
Talavs Riekstins, a 23‑year‑old Latvian chemistry student, pleaded guilty to arson after setting fire to a €34,000 BMW at Harford Motor Company in Balbriggan on 24 November 2016. He had been under the influence of a substance he had purchased and had previously been sent home earlier that day after refusing to leave the dealership. Riekstins returned with a petrol can, poured petrol over the car and used a lighter to ignite it. The court heard that pedestrians were nearby and that Riekstins was concerned about endangering people. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended the final 18 months, and back‑dated the term to the date he entered custody. The judge noted his clean record, employment history and family support as mitigating factors, while citing the uncontrollable nature of the fire and his drug use as aggravating factors. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John McGovern, aged 25, pleaded guilty to arson and assault at the Station Hill apartment complex in Clongriffin, Dublin, after a tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend Grainne O'Brien. The fire, set in November, caused €1.25 million in damage, destroyed six homes, and left 25 people, including children, temporarily homeless. McGovern, who had 25 prior convictions, was heavily intoxicated and on drugs during the incident. He threatened O'Brien's ex‑partner, left the building, and later was arrested at Raheny after acting erratically. The court heard that 14 fire trucks responded and the blaze took four‑and‑a‑half hours to control. McGovern's guilty plea and the impact statements from victims were noted, and the case was adjourned for a probation report. The sentencing is scheduled for 27 October.
Roman Vladislav, a 35‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for setting fire to the front door of his former housemate's home in Swords, Co. Dublin. The arson occurred on 9 May 2016 after a dispute over a missing mobile phone, during which Vladislav, who was intoxicated, had made drunken threats and had previously threatened to kill the occupants. He had also grabbed a resident's arm and put a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her and her sons. Gardaí were called to a commotion at the house; Vladislav fled before they arrived. The fire brigade extinguished the blaze, which had not entered the interior. Vladislav had 13 prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation. The judge noted his use of custody time productively and a moderate risk of re‑offending, but accepted the pre‑meditated nature of the offence. Roman Vladislav pleaded guilty.
Stephen O'Shaughnessy, aged 27, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for setting fire to an empty house being refurbished for the charity Prosper Fingal. The fire, which occurred on 14 June 2016, caused smoke, fire and water damage to a building that was two weeks from completion and cost the contractor €170,000 to gut and refit. O'Shaughnessy, who was intoxicated when he set fire to cardboard inside the house, was arrested at 2.50 a.m. after a member of the public identified him. He pleaded guilty to damaging by fire a house at Prosper Fingal, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan. The judge noted that 17 people were due to use the facility and that the charity had to rethink its security strategy following the incident.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has requested to view footage of Darren Murphy, 40, demonstrating to Gardaí how he stabbed his girlfriend, Olivia Dunlea, who lay face down on her bed. Murphy, who lives in Passage West, Co. Cork, pleaded not guilty to murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he stabbed Ms. Dunlea in the neck and set fire to her home. His plea was not accepted, and the jury is now considering a verdict. During Garda interviews, Murphy showed how the assault occurred; the interviews were recorded. After more than two hours of deliberation, the jury asked to see the footage again and requested Justice Patrick McCarthy repeat the definition of provocation. McCarthy explained that provocation must be a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion that deprives the accused of self‑control.
Craig Mooney, 19, pleaded guilty to arson at Hillview Estate, Ballinteer, on 13 November 2016. He set fire to a Fiat Punto left at the rear of a mechanic's house while he was intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. The car was in a garden where a child lived; Mooney claimed he did not know a child was present and would not have acted otherwise. CCTV showed him climbing a wall and igniting the back seat. He had 11 prior convictions for drug possession, traffic and public order offences. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, citing his early guilty plea, remorse and young age. The sentence reflects the serious risk to property and human life created by the arson.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in a cold case murder trial. The accused, John Joseph Malone, 53, of Newpark, Kilkenny City, pleaded not guilty to the strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 at Wolfe Tone Street. Justice Patrick McCarthy delivered a charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court, stressing that a unanimous verdict is required and that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Malone caused Ms Smyth's death.
In a cold‑case murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCarthy delivered a six‑hour charge to a jury of seven men and five women. The case concerns John Joseph Malone, aged 53, who has pleaded not guilty to the 1987 strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny City. The judge paused the proceedings before 5 pm and promised to resume the next morning.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 69‑year‑old woman was killed in a "callous and violent death" when she was strangled and her house set on fire. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued that the victim's injuries were consistent with strangulation and blows to the head and mouth, and that the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, had confessed to the crime to church members. Witnesses placed Malone at the victim's home around 12:30 am, where he allegedly argued with her and was seen acting suspiciously. Malone denied the killing and the arson. The defence, represented by Colman Cody SC, contended that the case was pursued because of later confessions, not because of forensic evidence, and that the police had focused on Malone for years. The jury was instructed to decide only whether the prosecution proved Malone's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judge would give his charge the following day. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a cold‑case murder trial in Kilkenny, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone is accused of strangling 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 and setting fire to her Wolfe Tone Street home. Malone pleaded not guilty. Witness Jude Curran, a long‑time friend and church member, testified that Malone confessed to him that he had killed Smyth, arguing that forensic evidence of strangulation conflicted with his account. Curran described several conversations in which Malone claimed he had pushed Smyth, that she fell, and that he had set the house on fire. Curran also recounted that Malone had told him he could not sleep over the case and that he had considered confessing to a police officer. The trial continues with Malone's defence counsel cross‑examining Curran on the alleged confessions and the evidence presented. The court heard no further evidence of a verdict or sentencing.
Pat McCann, a 70-year-old convicted garda murderer, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage for criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to throwing a keg against the window of John Brereton Jewellers on Grafton Street on July 23, 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. McCann was originally sentenced to death in 1980 for the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley during an armed robbery near Loughglynn, Co Roscommon. His sentence was commuted to 40 years, and he was released in 2013. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter until April 7 to allow for a probation report, noting McCann's extensive custody history and consistent criminal conduct since release. The prosecution highlighted 12 previous convictions, including arson and burglary, and stated McCann was intoxicated during the offence. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC cited McCann's mental health history, his remorse, and his willingness to repay damages using pension funds. The court heard McCann has been in custody since December and hopes to secure accommodation with an adult child upon release. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
James Kennedy, 34, of Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kennedy's 40 prior convictions include criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour in a Garda station. The incident involved setting a motorbike on fire, which caused a passing woman and her child to flee for safety. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the act as "senseless but highly dangerous" and noted that Kennedy had alcohol problems and did not recall the event. The final two years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including treatment and liaison with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court accepted a probation report indicating that the Probation Service could assist Kennedy in the future. The motorbike, valued at €3,000, was completely destroyed by the blaze.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
In a court hearing on 28 November 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly was informed that Raymond O'Neill, 37, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder and arson connected with the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, remains in critical condition in prison. Dornan was found stabbed to death in her burning house in Hazel View, west Belfast, in August 2015. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February on a European Arrest Warrant and had previously been held in a Midlands prison where he overdosed on drugs, leading to an adjournment of an extradition hearing at the High Court. The court was told that O'Neill could not attend in person due to health reasons, and his solicitor, Caroline Cummings BL, confirmed his critical state but had not received any medical evidence. Judge Donnelly expressed frustration at the lack of a medical report, which she had ordered to assess O'Neill's capacity to give instructions.
James Kennedy, 34, from Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He set a motorbike on fire, causing a passing woman and child to flee for safety. CCTV shows Kennedy moving the bike, tampering with the petrol tank, placing lottery slips under it, and then setting them alight in a nearby café. The bike, worth €3,000, was completely destroyed. Kennedy had 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour. He admits alcohol problems, stating he was "full of alcohol" after drinking a bottle of vodka that day, and does not recall the incident. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to allow assessment for residential drug treatment and ordered a probation report. Kennedy will be sentenced next February.
Jamie Morris Cox, 19, pleaded guilty to arson of a Mercedes SUV at Rathfarnham Shopping Centre on 18 October 2015. He admitted he had no recollection of lighting the fire, describing himself as "crazy drunk, off my head in a different world." Garda Shane McGrath reported that staff at a nearby pub had thrown Morris Cox and another man out, after which they smashed the vehicle's windows and set it on fire. The fire was extinguished by bar staff, and the men fled toward a housing estate where they were later arrested. The damage to the vehicle was €5,000, and the owner, a carpenter, was unable to work for two weeks. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Morris Cox to a three‑year suspended prison term, noting his admission of responsibility, remorse, and the positive influence of his grandfather. The sentence was suspended in full, with the court emphasising the need for intervention to prevent future criminal behaviour.
A 53‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, who was found dead on the floor of a kitchen in Co Carlow on 16 September 2014. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim had beaten the accused in an arm‑wrestling match and that the accused, Liam Power, had stamped on the victim's head and testicles, kicked him repeatedly, and attempted to set fire to his hair and privates with a lighter. Power claimed he was intoxicated, having drunk about 16 cans of cider and smoked crack cocaine before the killing. Forensic evidence showed blunt‑force trauma to the head and neck, with blood patterns matching the accused's shoes. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty and given a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 18 September 2014.
The jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of 53‑year‑old Liam Power, who is charged with murdering a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, found dead on the kitchen floor of his home on 16 September 2014. Power has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Intembergs' home in Graigowen, Tullow, Co. Carlow. He also pleaded not guilty to an assault‑causing‑harm charge against another man, Aigar Sildars, on the same occasion. Power told Gardaí that he punched Intembergs and stamped on him many times, and that he tried to set fire to the victim; he claimed he did about half as much to Sildars.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, 52‑year‑old Liam Power, a man of no fixed abode, told Gardaí that he had repeatedly kicked a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, before removing his clothes and attempting to burn him. Power claimed he had been "frightened" and "like an animal" during the incident, which took place on the night of 15 September 2014, with Intembergs found dead on the kitchen floor the next morning. Power admitted drinking about 16 cans of beer and smoking crack cocaine in the hours before the alleged murder. He also said he had used a lighter to try to set fire to the victim's privates, with co‑accused Dzintars Sackalausks (33) assisting. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continued on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
Gareth Quinn, 33, was sentenced to one year in prison for setting fire to a stolen BMW X5 and two other parked cars, causing €40,000 in damage. The incident occurred on 9 August 2015 when Quinn, under the influence of alcohol, crashed the BMW into a parked Audi TT and then attempted to dislodge it for 10–15 minutes before igniting the vehicle with a cigarette lighter. The fire spread to an Audi A4 and a Fiat Punto. Quinn, who has 71 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of the BMW and arson. The sentence is consecutive to his existing four‑year term for unlawful taking of a car, which began in April 2019. The court noted Quinn's intoxication and frustration as the motive for the arson. The case was heard at the Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court and the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge imposed the additional year of imprisonment, extending Quinn's current custodial period.
Gerard Field, 28, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson at his own home and adjacent houses on 11 April 2015. He set fire to a bag of clothes in the back room of his downstairs with the intention of taking his own life, using no petrol or other flammable materials. Field, who uses a wheelchair and has spina bifida, hydrocephalus and mild cerebral palsy, had been depressed and had sought psychiatric help the day before the incident. He was severely injured, lost consciousness and was rescued by the Dublin Fire Brigade; his parents were taken to Beaumont Hospital and his sister suffered minor injuries. Field had no prior convictions. The court, after hearing his background and the lack of intent to harm others, imposed a five‑year suspended sentence and required him to engage with probation services for two years. The judge described the sentence as lenient given his circumstances and the seriousness of the offence.