Homeless man cleared of causing €4m in damages to church by reason of insanity

A homeless man who set fire to a city centre church in Dublin has been cleared of causing €4m worth of damages by reason of insanity.

Patrick Currie immediately admitted the arson at St Catherine’s Church, Meath Street on January 2, 2012.

He set fire to straw behind a crib with his own lighter and said he had done it because he was 'God Almighty'.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence the 49-year-old has schizoaffective disorder.

It took over an hour for the jury to return a not guilty verdict.