Juvenile Louth arsonist amongst gang of five that caused €81,000 damage to local authority house
A jury found the defendant guilty of arson and the case was back before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing.
He was one of five co-accused who caused more than €81,000 damage to a local authority house in Rathmullan Park on July 3, 2019. The house was effectively gutted.
There was no evidence as to who ignited petrol to start the blaze. The front and back doors had been set alight to make escape more difficult.
An adult male was awake downstairs and two teenagers upstairs. He raised the alarm and everyone got out.
The householder was not present at the time. She was left with only the clothes on her back and lost items of great sentimental value.
Using CCTV from various points throughout Drogheda investigators were able to track the movements of the five accused. The defendant was recognised by Gardaí.
Petrol and a lighter were bought at one stage. There was no CCTV of the incident.
The defendant had no previous convictions nor had he come to adverse attention since.
The court heard that he had a difficult childhood and been taken into care. His mother left and he had no contact with her. He had been misusing drugs.
It was the view of the Probation Service that he was at low risk of re-offending and that further supervision was not required.
Judge Dara Hayes said this was an attack on an occupied family home. Fortunately, the alarm was raised otherwise the consequences could have been more serious or fatal.
It was a joint enterprise of arson, a very serious offence. The defendant was a child at the time.
He was now employed and in a stable relationship.
Two of the co-accused had received custodial sentences, and two non-custodial.
The judge continued that an immediate custodial sentence was not appropriate in this case.
A five-year sentence was imposed, suspended for five years. The defendant must provide three further clear urinalysis tests.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
6 hours ago
- Sunday World
Grandad who stole alcohol using wire cutter to pay drug debt is spared jail
'These are serious matters - stealing alcohol in order to pay off a drug debt is not acceptable' A 54-year-old man who stole 17 bottles of spirits to repay a drug debt has been given a probation bond. Brian Early, of St Joseph's Avenue, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in relation to two incidents in February last year. The court heard that on February 12, 2024, Early stole 17 bottles of alcohol worth €660 from Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, Dublin 18. Detective Sergeant Wendy Byrne told the court that Early had removed the security tags from the bottles using wire cutters. He had made a small payment for a packet of toilet rolls to give the impression of a legitimate purchase. Photo: Getty. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 July 2025 She said the theft was premeditated and that two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin, worth €50 to €60 each, were recovered. When asked by Judge Conor Fottrell if all of the stolen goods had been retrieved, Sgt Byrne said not all were recovered, but the total value taken was approximately €700. Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, counsel for the defence, said Early, a father and grandfather, had developed a serious addiction to crack cocaine in recent years. After a five-year battle with cancer and the death of his father, his life became 'chaotic,' the court was told. She said her client stole the alcohol to repay a drug debt, but has since gone cold turkey and remained clean for the past 10 months. The court heard he did not attend a formal drug programme but had sought support from Pieta House after a previous mental health crisis. Ms Crowley said that her client receives a disability allowance and had entered guilty pleas at an early stage. He is no longer in counselling but is making efforts to rebuild his life, the court heard. Judge Fottrell noted the court was told the offences arose out of a drug debt. "That may well be the case - but it's ridiculous. You need to sort it out,' he told the defendant. 'These are serious matters - stealing alcohol in order to pay off a drug debt is not acceptable. But I accept you've taken steps to address your situation,' he added. Taking into account the guilty plea, Early's personal circumstances and his engagement with support services, Judge Fottrell imposed a 12-month probation bond on condition that Early keeps the peace and engages in good behaviour. 'I suggest you continue to engage with Pieta House and any further counselling available to you,' the judge said. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Judge tells man whose partner died after festival drug use it is ‘one of the saddest cases'
The court heard that Mr Carroll and his girlfriend had attended the Forbidden Fruit festival on June 2, 2024, where they both consumed drugs A 24-year-old man whose partner died after they both took drugs following a music festival has avoided a conviction for simple possession, in what a judge described as "one of the saddest cases" to come before his court. The District Court was told that the defendant Brian Carroll has now made a commitment to living a "drug-free life". Mr Carroll, of Cedarmount Road, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA and cannabis and appeared before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - 7th June The court heard that Mr Carroll and his girlfriend had attended the Forbidden Fruit festival on June 2, 2024, where they both consumed drugs, while further substances were taken later at a house in south Dublin. The woman was found unresponsive later that night and died as a result. Mr Carroll had been in a relationship with the deceased for two and a half years. Gardaí who carried out a search of the house recovered cannabis worth €44, €16 of MDMA and a small quantity of cocaine. Garda Harry Poole told the court that the drugs were for personal use and were at the lower end of the scale. The court heard that Mr Carroll later voluntarily attended a garda station, gave a full account of what occurred and has not come to garda attention since. Judge Fottrell initially questioned whether the District Court had jurisdiction to hear the case, given the serious background circumstances. 'I appreciate the plea before the court today, but this is a serious matter,' he said. 'I'm not sure it's a District Court matter.' Defence solicitor Mark O'Sullivan said it was a tragic accident and argued that the case before the court concerned a minor possession matter. 'That's all the court is being asked to hear today,' he said. After considering the details, Judge Fottrell accepted jurisdiction. 'On the basis of what's before me, the circumstances are tragic. I'll accept jurisdiction.' Mr O'Sullivan told the court that Mr Carroll and the deceased had bought the drugs together, but the woman had taken more than his client. He said his client was fully cooperative, had no previous convictions, and had voluntarily presented himself to Gardaí. Letters were handed into court from Kilmacud Medical Centre and the Community Addiction Response Programme. The court heard Mr Carroll had engaged in trauma counselling following the incident, tested negative for drugs in recent months and remained in full-time employment. He had also volunteered with Little Flower Penny Dinners during the Covid-19 pandemic. The woman's father and sister were present in court. 'On behalf of my client, I extend our sympathies to the family,' Mr O'Sullivan said. 'Relations remain good between them. This was an absolute tragedy.' In a personal letter to the court, the man expressed remorse and a commitment to living a drug-free life. Judge Fottrell acknowledged the man's remorse, the steps he had taken since and the tragic nature of the case. 'This is a tragic case,' he said. 'The consequences were anything but minor. However, the value of the drugs involved is low, and there are no previous convictions". 'You've pleaded guilty, made full admissions, and taken meaningful steps since. I don't propose to impose a conviction. "This is one of the most unusual and saddest cases to come before the court. I hope you continue your recovery," the judge said, addressing the defendant. Judge Fottrell concluded the matter without a conviction, following a €1,000 charitable donation. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
15 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man with 145 convictions held knife to woman's throat during cocaine-fuelled burglary
Defendant with 145 previous convictions stated drugs 'blew the socks off me' This was after the man crashed a stolen car close to where she lived in Gyles Quay, a popular North Louth beach which was packed with cars on a sunny Sunday afternoon last year. James McDonagh (38), Dominic Street, Newry, Co. Down, appeared before Dundalk Circuit Court via video link for a sentence hearing. He has been in custody since the offending occurred. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, unlawfully using a car without consent, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, at Gyles Quay on June 23, 2024. Other charges including false imprisonment of a female are being taken into consideration. He told Gardaí who arrested him at the scene that he had taken too much cocaine. 'It blew the socks off me'. The defendant, one of 13 children, moved to Newry from Dundalk, and has 145 previous convictions on both sides of the border. Judge Dara Hayes adjourned the matter to June 19 and said that there will be a 'significant sentence'. Gardaí had been alerted by the PSNI about a stolen BMW which had crossed the border. A car was spotted acting suspiciously around Bellurgan, north of Dundalk, but despite extensive searches throughout the early hours of the morning it could not to be located. Around 2pm this car was seen on the main Carlingford Road. It turned for Gyles Quay and went into a car park. Gyles Quay basking in glorious sunshine on a day similar to the incident. Photo: Ken Finegan/ News in 90 Seconds - 7th June Det Gda Eimear Gallagher in plain clothes and a colleague wearing full uniform approached the BMW. Its driver's door was open. A man was in the front seat. He didn't engage with the officers and reached down. Det Gda Gallagher testified that she feared he had a weapon. The driver turned on the ignition. She asked him to get out. By this stage the other guard was standing in front of the car. The engine was being revved and Det Gda Gallagher told her colleague to move. At that point Mr McDonagh took off at such speed that the car was 'bouncing' across the potholed surface as he left the car park. The two Gardaí raced to their vehicle and once on the move activated the blue lights and siren to try to get the BMW to stop and to warn pedestrians. One man had to lift a buggy containing a child out of the way to avoid being hit by the defendant as he sped past. Read more The car struck a parked van and as it continued back towards the main road it mounted a footpath on which there were a lot of pedestrians before colliding with a wall and coming to a stop. The driver got out and ran. He had a large silver knife in his right hand and a hammer in the other. He scaled a fence and ran along the beach towards Ferguson's caravan park. Meanwhile, a woman living in a bungalow at the park was sitting on a sofa. It was so warm she had the back doors open. Suddenly, around 3pm, a man came through the door with what she described as a butcher's knife. He had something else in his other hand but she was only focused on the knife. He had blood on his face. He screamed for her car keys and demanded money. The woman's young son came out of his room and was screaming. The woman was in such fear that she was willing to co-operate to protect her son. She couldn't find the keys. McDonagh held the knife to her throat until she found them. While this was going on armed Gardaí had arrived outside. The victim saw them. The man ran and was chased through the house by the guards and out the back door. Det Gda Gallagher told the mother and child to stay inside and not come out until Gardaí returned. Outside, one of the other officers pulled his gun and the man lay down on grass. He was arrested there by Det Gda Gallagher at 3.04pm, some 500m from the house. The man said: 'I think I took too much cocaine. It blew the socks off me. I took the car. I didn't know it was wanted. I was driving nice and slow. I was washing up 'Coke' to do 'Crack'. 'I didn't know they were guards. I put the boot down and drove off. I panicked and I crashed.' Later, he added: 'Jesus, I didn't do a burglary, did I? Only slagging.' McDonagh said that he wasn't going to use the knife. "I was only scaring her. I saw youse outside and I ran. You got me.' He denied putting a knife to the woman's throat. "She walked to me. She must have wanted a claim or something.' "I could get big time. I'm sorry for what I said and what I did.' He signed the memos of interview. The court heard of 145 previous convictions – 85 in the Republic of Ireland and sixty in the North. These included unauthorised taking of vehicles, theft, possession of a knife, robbery, trespass, assault, burglary, assaulting police and drugs possession. Gda Laura O'Connor read out out a harrowing Victim Impact Statement which detailed how the woman and her family had moved to Ireland hoping for a safe and better quality of life. Her husband lost his life tragically here. She spoke of her son screaming for his life and the ongoing consequences of the attack. She felt completely unsafe in her own home. There were flashbacks of the knife against her throat. Her son's terrifying screams haunted her. She thanked the Gardaí. It was stated in a probation report that James McDonagh accepted full responsibility. He had taken a combination of drugs with whiskey when he stole the vehicle in Northern Ireland to sell across the border to buy cocaine. He identified as a member of the Travelling community, the second youngest of 13 children. His parents moved to Newry and he intends to live with his brother in Dundalk. Single, and the father of two adult children, he had never worked and was reliant on social welfare. The defendant was on methadone and continued to use drugs in custody. He was assessed at high risk of reoffending. Judge Hayes said that he was grateful to the victim for coming to court. It was of much assistance to him. 'It was a horrifying experience for you and your son. I'm dreadfully sorry. It's unimaginable how awful it must have been for you and your son.' The judge said these were extremely serious offences. He allowed time for a drugs counsellor's report to be prepared. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
