Five years for schizophrenic man who set fire at Skerries house

A paranoid schizophrenic who lit a fire outside a Skerries house he was “fixated on” has received five years' jail with two suspended at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Peter Bradshaw (aged 45) lit the fire in a wheelie bin which caused damage estimated at €1,000 to the house gable and electrical box. He then sat on a wall nearby and watched as neighbours put out the fire.

Defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, said the case was “odd from start to finish” and “involves at its heart sickness in the form of mental illness”.

Bradshaw, of Claremount Street, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty to arson at Kelly's Bay Strand, Skerries on June 13, 2008.

Judge Katherine Delahunt said this was “a particularly nasty crime” and Bradshaw’s actions could have had “terrible consequences”.

Garda Jack Beckett told Mr Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, that the residents of the damaged house had left at about 7pm that evening and at about 11pm neighbours across the road noticed a fire lighting. A group of men went to investigate and found the wheelie bin beside the house and the electrical box on the house wall alight.

The men put out the fire and noticed Bradshaw sitting on the garden wall with a rucksack on his back. They asked him did he start the fire and he replied that he did. He remained until gardaí arrived and he was arrested.

Gda Beckett said Bradshaw admitted bringing petrol to the scene and starting the fire. He said most of Bradshaw’s explanations were unintelligible and he falsely claimed to be the owner of the house as well as making “vague threats against unknown persons".

Gda Beckett agreed with Mr Gillane that Bradshaw, who has eight previous convictions, had no ties to Skerries.

Mr Gillane said the case was difficult to understand and Bradshaw gave explanations for his actions that made no sense. He said Bradshaw had a “fixation on this property” at the time but now accepts it has nothing to do with him and he would undertake to stay away from the house.

He said Bradshaw had been receiving psychiatric treatment and was being treated for paranoid schizophrenia but had been judged fit to plead.

Judge Delahunt ordered Bradshaw to comply with all psychiatric services input, to stay away from Skerries, to have no contact with the injured party on his release and to attend for drug and alcohol treatment.