Teen caused €3.6m damage after lighting fire to keep warn

A teenager who set a fire in an apartment building to keep warm and left it smouldering ended up causing €3.6m in criminal damage.

Kenneth McInerney, aged 18, was only 15 at the time of the offence.

He was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty. His trial opened in the morning. Shortly after lunch, he changed his plea to one of guilty to arson.