Suspended sentence over €150k arson attack

A man caused €150,000 fire damage to his ex-employer’s home in Fountainstown, co Cork, because of a grievance and yesterday got a five-year sentence suspended on condition he would remain on medication for his delusions.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said the arson committed by Simon Jordan, aged 30, was very serious carried out in an act of delusion.

“The court is particularly concerned for the safety of the public and that he would maintain his medication regime and keep his delusions under control by medical supervision rather than by imprisonment,” the judge said.

“Even on a plea of guilty it would merit a five-year sentence. He has no history of fire-setting. He has behaved himself since and he is compliant with his psychiatrist which is very significant. There cannot be any scope for remission.”

The five-year sentence was suspended on condition that Jordan stay away from Fountainstown and remain under psychiatric care.

Sergeant Ger O’Callaghan previously described the offence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The owner of the house left home and went to his daughter’s house. During the evening, he got a call from gardaí to say his house was on fire. Extensive damage was caused.

Jordan was nominated as a person who might have had some part in it.

Gardaí visited Jordan, who acknowledged he had been in Fountainstown for a spin that evening, March 1, 2013, but recalled nothing about it. Jack Lynch tunnel CCTV showed his car going to and from the Fountainstown direction at the relevant times.