Disabled man charged with arson at care home

A 22-YEAR-OLD disabled man was yesterday returned for trial charged with causing a fire at a care home in August 2010 during which a 95-year-old woman died.

At Killaloe District Court in Co Clare, the book of evidence was served on wheelchair user James Sherlock of Childers Rd, Ennis.

He is charged with arson under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act at the Lakes Nursing Home, Killaloe, on August 20, 2010.

An inquest last month found that a resident, Margaret O’Gorman, did not die from effects of the fire, but of a heart attack while residents were being moved to a safe area of the home in response to the fire.

Aideen Bleech told the inquest Ms O’Gorman had been administered the last rites the previous day.

At the district court sitting yesterday, Mr Sherlock said he understood Judge Aeneas McCarty’s warning that if part of his defence contained an alibi, he had to inform gardaí within 14 days.

Inspector John O’Sullivan said that there was no objection to bail for Mr Sherlock and applied that he be remanded on bail to re-appear before the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court on February 14.