The offences were committed over a 24 hour period in March/April 2018. The accused is suspected of having set fire to a motorbike outside an apartment block. The flames spread to the building, causing the evacuation of ten people living in the apartments. The man is then suspected of having set fire to a nearby car later on that night.
The suspect was already known to police. In 2016 he was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison with suspension after he set fire to a lorry. A psychiatric analysis has confirmed the man is a pyromaniac, which does not bode well for his future, with dangers of re-offending.
The accused, who has spent the last 21 months in custody, was identified through CCTV from a pharmacy two years ago. He only admitted to having carried out the second offence after he was confronted with this evidence. He alleged the second fire was an accident caused by a cigarette. However, when he was arrested and searched, officers found 15 cigarette lighters on his person.
After the owners of the affected motorbike and car asked for €5,500 in damages, the prosecutor said the amount of cigarette lighters found on the suspect opened up many more questions. Although the suspect did not intend for the fire to reach the building in the first instance, the counts of arson were sufficient to put him in prison for several years.
However, following a psychiatric evaluation, the man could yet profit from mitigating circumstances at the time of the offences.
The verdict will be pronounced on 4 February.
