Accused asks for help with alcohol problems

A Corkman accused of setting fire to cars in his neighbourhood asked for help yesterday in dealing with his alcoholism and health problems and said prison was not the place for him.

John Heaphy, aged 61, of 59 Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, said yesterday: “There are voices in my head, I don’t know what I am doing, I don’t know what is going around me.”

Detective Garda Alan Johnson said it was alleged by the prosecution that five cars were set on fire and that they were all in residential areas making the fires potentially more dangerous in terms of damage and risk to life because of the proximity of houses.