Juvenile Louth arsonist among gang of five who caused €81,000 damage to local authority home
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
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