John Kelly (51), pleaded guilty to arson of the family home at Bruhenny, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork on December 18, 2016 when the four children aged 11, eight, six and two were inside.

The trial of a man and woman accused of carrying out an aggravated burglary in the Mallow area while armed with a sledgehammer and an iron bar was about to start yesterday — but the two accused changed their pleas to guilty.