Arsonist called gardaí to scene of blazes

A drunken young man who set several fires inside a parish hall with which he had “negative associations” is to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

David Dunlea (aged 20) called gardaí to the scene after setting the fires in the building across the road from his home and seemed “excited” as he watched them extinguish the flames. He later said setting fires was “highly addictive” and gave him a “thrill”.