Man pleads guilty to €2m arson attack

A MIDDLE-AGED man confessed yesterday to carrying out an arson attack on the southern headquarters of the Health Service Executive in June 2007. The fire is estimated to have cost the HSE €2 million.

Thomas “Tom” Jones, aged 47, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the charge of arson in Wilton, Cork, on June 30 last year. He pleaded guilty to the offence.

Jones, who is formerly of Ringmahon Avenue, Mahon, Cork, was remanded in custody until tomorrow for sentencing.

The full background to how the crime was committed and the impact it had on the HSE will be outlined when the matter is before the court for sentencing.

The full charge against Jones states that on June 30, 2007, at the Health Service Executive at Farm Centre, Wilton Road, Cork, he committed an arson in that he damaged by fire property, namely a reception area, ground floor and information technology room of the building intending such damage, or being reckless as to whether such damage was caused.

Most of the building’s 190 staff reported for work as normal at the former farm centre building after the fire last year, but several dozen were told to stay away until alternative office arrangements were made.

Several services were relocated in the short-term to other HSE offices in Wilton, the Kinsale Road and elsewhere in Cork city. The estimated €2 million cost of the arson arises from repair to the damaged building and the necessity to relocate some of the staff.