Toddler died after man petrol bombed house, court told

A man petrol bombed a house sparking a fire which killed a 23-month-old boy, a court heard today.

Gerard Redmond carried out the attack in apparent revenge for being punched by a member of the family outside the house in north Dublin, said prosecutor Edward Comyn SC.

Redmond, 36, of Ferrycarrig Park, Coolock, Co Dublin, denied the murder of Adam Lieghio when he appeared at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court today.

Mr Comyn told the jury that the incident was sparked when Stefanio Lieghio assaulted Redmond in an apparently unprovoked attack.

Redmond suffered a cut lip and his glasses were broken, Mr Comyn said.

Police were called but left when they were told it was a domestic incident, he said.

Later Redmond went to the home of a neighbour of Mr Lieghio and asked for a glass bottle, saying he was going to burn the house down, the prosecution alleged.

Redmond, who had been drinking heavily, then left to construct the petrol bomb from a container and a sock, before throwing it into the kitchen of the house in Buttercup Park, Darndale, causing the blaze in July last year, it was alleged.

Mr Comyn said Adam’s mother, Louisa, ran into the street screaming that her house was on fire and her baby was trapped.

Neighbours battled to rescue the child but were beaten back by the intense heat.

The trial before Mr Justice O’Sullivan continues tomorrow and is expected to last up to six days.