Cork man jailed for putting four people through 'terrifying ordeal' of Christmas Day arson

The total sentence of six years and nine months is consecutive to the sentence the defendant is already serving

The court heard  it took six units of the fire brigade to bring the fire on Dyke Parade under control. File picture: Cork City Fire Brigade

A terrifying Christmas Day ordeal for four people in a house that was deliberately set on fire was all the more frightening for one woman who had to be rescued from the roof of an adjoining house as the fire blazed below her.

That was how Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford today described the experience of the victims as she imposed a sentence on Friday of six years and nine months on 32-year-old Shane Casey, to commence in approximately one year when his present sentence for an aggravated burglary expires.

The judge said that apart from the arson damage to 5 Dyke Parade, Cork, there was collateral damage to the Georgian houses on either side which were described as excellently maintained properties. Total damage across the three properties cost €240,000 to repair.

But Ms Justice Lankford said: “That is bad enough but from my perspective, the real issue was the risk to life posed by Mr Casey’s actions. The four people all had smoke inhalation injuries. (The owner of the targeted house) had slashes that had to be sutured. It was a terrifying ordeal for all of them.

“In particular, (one of the women present) had to be rescued from the roof, 45 minutes after the fire was set. Being out on the roof of an adjoining property with the building underneath you on fire is a very significant matter. And it took six units of the fire brigade to bring it under control.

“Mr Casey imposed on these people a terrifying ordeal. He addressed (the owner) at knifepoint as he left the building, and he required him to go back into the building that was burning and told him he was going to die.” 

As for the defendant, the judge noted that he had been diagnosed with paranoid psychosis and had been medicated in the past for schizophrenia. He mistakenly believed that a person present in the house that day was someone with whom he had argued days earlier.

The judge also acknowledged frightening experience for one woman who had to be rescued from the roof of an adjoining house as the fire blazed below her. File picture: Cork City Fire Brigade

The judge added: “I take the view he is a very vulnerable person. Nonetheless his actions on the night were extremely dangerous. He is particularly vulnerable and particularly dangerous to society if he presents in the way he presented on December 25 2023.” 

The total sentence of six years and nine months, consecutive to the sentence he is already serving was imposed in total in respect of charges of assault causing harm to the owner, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and causing criminal damage to the house and neighbouring properties with intent to endanger life.