Cork man slashed homeowner with knife as he tried to leave burning house on Christmas Day, court hears

The sentencing hearing also heard that the defendant was on High Court bail at the time of the arson on a separate case

Firefighters attending the blaze at Dyke Parade on Christmas Day in 2023. The court heard that at least six units of the fire service took more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe. Picture: Cork City Fire Brigade

A man who set fire to a four-storey Georgian house in Cork City where four people were celebrating Christmas Day slashed the owner with a knife as he tried to leave, it emerged at his sentencing hearing on Monday

The hearing also heard that he was on High Court bail at the time on a separate case involving aggravated burglary.

33-year-old Shane Casey was admitted to a psychiatric hospital unit while on bail and was discharged 15 days before he carried out this arson in Cork City. Shane Casey started the fire with an accelerant, and as smoke and flames spread through the building, he held a knife at the front door and forced it closed from the outside.

This was the evidence of Sergeant Brian Barron who investigated the case.

Defence senior counsel, Ray Boland, said the man was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. “He suffers from distorted and paranoid thinking,” Mr Boland said.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said she would consider the evidence given at the sentencing hearing and give judgement on December 5. Shane Casey was remanded in custody until then.

Garda testimony

Sergeant Barron testified that Shane Casey, who was previously living at Shanowen, Rathcormac, Co Cork, turned up outside the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023. Four people were present in the house.

“At 6.05pm, he exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold. At 6.06pm, he closes the front door and attempts to barricaded the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door.

“He takes a blade from his pocket and holds it out in front of him and waits outside. At 6.08pm, the front door bursts open and [one of the men] attempts to escape the now blazing house.

"Shane Casey swipes at him with the blade twice, slashing his forehead. He has no choice but to retreat back into the burning house with Shane Casey in pursuit.

"He can be seen blocking attempts made to get out of the burning house, again holding the blade before leaving at 6.09pm.

"The man who was cut did not know the person who set fire to the house but told gardaí the person said 'My name is Shane Casey and you remember me from two days ago — you are going to die here tonight'.

Firefighters at the fire on Dyke Parade. Picture: Cork City Fire Brigade

"In the following two minutes, a woman and two men leave. The last person in the building — a woman — could not get out and went to the fourth floor. The first two floors were in flames.

“At 6.17pm, the fire service rescue arrive. They rescue her from the burning building by removing her from the roof of the adjoining property. At least six units of the fire service took more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe.” 

The house itself had been owned by a man living somewhat “off grid” who used to allow some homeless people to stay there. With virtually no working utilities in the house there was no bin collection and several rooms were stacked high with refuse built up over years.

Properties neighbouring 4 Dyke Parade which were kept in excellent condition by their owners were also damaged by the fire. One of them only sustained €10,000 smoke damage, the other was more seriously affected, with the damage put at €120,000.

The fire damage to 4 Dyke Parade was extensive and would have cost €110,000 to return it a basic condition. As the owner had no money to pay for this and had no insurance, he has had to sell the house and live elsewhere.

The exact times of events around 6pm were known because of neighbouring CCTV which captured what occurred. Several minutes of video recordings were shown to the judge at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

Ms Justice Lankford also said in respect of Shane Casey: “I have read a letter which was clearly written by himself.” 

He will be sentenced on Friday on charges of assault causing harm to the owner, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and finally causing criminal damage to the house and neighbouring properties with intent to endanger life.