Porter remanded in arson-suicide attempt

A hospital porter who, in an attempt to commit suicide, set fire to the county council home he shared with his partner and four children, has been remanded on bail pending sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Katherine Delahunt heard that Daniel Long (aged 43), now living in Grange Abbey Crescent, Donaghmede, had a drinking problem at the time. She didn’t accept that a report in court indicating that he had tested negative for alcohol since January 2007 was sufficient to prove he no longer abused drink.

She heard that he had to provide random samples to Beaumont Hospital where he worked after he was told he would be fired if he continued to abuse alcohol.

Judge Delahunt said there was "a complete lack of realisation from this man as to what he has done" and adjourned sentencing to next June when she said there should be documents to prove that Long had given at least four random breath samples per month.

Long pleaded guilty to arson of the house in Kilbarrack on February 10, 2006. There was €59,570 worth of damage caused to the house, a cost which had to be covered by Dublin City Council.

Garda Brian McKenna told Ms Kathleen Noctor BL, defending, that Long and his partner had a row around midday that day and she left with three of the four children to visit a neighbour. Later that evening her daughter called to the neighbour’s home to say the house was on fire.

Long was standing outside watching the fire when his partner arrived down to the house. He was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation where he asked gardaí if the house was badly damaged.

He told gardaí that he couldn’t "give a shit" about the fire and said he started it in an attempt to commit suicide. He said he intended to hurt himself and no body else and added that he wouldn’t have done it if his partner or any of his children had been in the house.

Gda McKenna said Long put white spirits on curtains in a downstairs room before setting them alight. He then tried to pull the curtains down to stop the fire but was unsuccessful. He left the house after he decided he didn’t want to die that way.

He said both the upstairs and downstairs of the house was badly damaged but Dublin fire brigade were able to get the fire under control.

Gda McKenna agreed with Mr Michael Bowman, BL, defending, that although Long is no longer in a relationship with his partner they are on good terms and he has access to their four children.

He accepted that it took seven weeks for the house to be ready for the family again during which time they had to stay with relatives and friends.

Gda McKenna further accepted that Long had a history of psychiatric and alcoholic difficulties. He currently has to give random breath samples to Beaumont Hospital where he works as a porter.

Mr Bowman told Judge Delahunt that his client behaved recklessly that day and he was very fortunate that no body was put at risk.

He said his client has had suicidal tendencies from a young age and had difficulty coming to terms with what he had done to his family.