Youth banned after fire

A 19-year-old youth was yesterday ordered to stay out of parts of Limerick after he was charged following a fire that caused €500,000 worth of damage to a special needs school last month.

David Hannon, 4 Whitecross Gardens, Moyross, is charged with entering St Gabriel’s School, Dooradoyle, Limerick, on April 16 last as a trespasser and committing criminal damage, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2001.

Judge Tom O’Donnell yesterday ordered Hannon to stay out of the Dooradoyle and Raheen area.

When the case was first heard last Tuesday, the court was told the accused had been seen in the area since the fire. When he was charged with the alleged damage, he said he didn’t burn the school.

Aeneas McCarthy, solicitor for Hannon, said his client’s mother was in hospital.

Judge Tom O’Donnell remanded Hannon to yesterday’s court sitting to enable the accused to produce a certificate confirming his mother was in hospital.

When the hearing resumed, Garda Inspector Tom O’Brien said garda enquiries had found there was nobody in hospital. The Judge then remarked the instructions given by the accused to his solicitor was untrue. Hannon, in evidence, said his mother was in hospital with cancer and came home two or three days ago.

Judge O’Donnell remanded the accused on bail to the court sitting on June 10 next and ordered him to sign on daily at Mayorstone Garda Station.