Man charged with setting own house on fire

A MAN charged with setting fire to his house with his mother and girlfriend inside the dwelling, was refused bail at Limerick District Court yesterday.

Dean Barry, aged 24, of Garryglass Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, pleaded not guilty to arson and not guilty to causing criminal damage on October 16 this year.

Gardaí have alleged that Barry “set fire to a mattress in an upstairs bedroom of the house, while his mother and girlfriend were inside the house”.

He is also alleged to have “picked up a four-foot plank of wood and begun smashing up a sitting room” on the same night.

Barry faces one count of arson and three counts of causing criminal damage, including damage to a table, a mirror and a phone.

Gardaí objected to bail on a number of strict conditions.

Judge Eamon O’Brien remanded Barry in custody to Limerick Prison to appear before Limerick District Court again on October 25, via videolink.