Anger over text spurred arson attacks

A middle-aged man who was upset about texts he was getting from a younger relative made two attempts to burn down the apartment building where the relative was living.

Garda Michelle O’Leary said yesterday at the sentencing hearing for Paul Deegan, 45, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the accused’s relative was resident at the house where Deegan started fires on two occasions.

“It was his intention to kill (him). He had no remorse, but said he was sorry for the other people living in the building. He said he would not pay for the damage, he said he could not pay anyway — €17,260 was the total damage caused,” Garda O’Leary said.