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Donal O'Regan, 27 Dec
A “PYROMANIAC” who caused hundreds of thousands of euros in fire damage
to two protected three-storey Georgian properties and turned a family’s
forever home into a “black and dilapidated eyesore” has been jailed.
The owners of Tir Connell on the Ennis Road in Limerick city said it
was like being trapped in a horror film as they watched their dream
home and savings “go up quite literally in smoke”.
Darren Holland, aged 41, of Cliona Park, Moyross pleaded guilty to the
arson of Tir Connell and Glenlevan, Ennis Road, criminal damage and
burglary at Tir Connell, and attempted burglary at a third property on
the Ennis Road.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor
Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective
Garda Ronan Humphreys at Limerick Circuit Court.
Mr O’Sullivan said emergency services received reports of a fire at a
three-storey Georgian house on the Ennis Road, Limerick city shortly
before 10pm on April 4, 2023.
“Numerous units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance
to quench the fire. It was discovered the fire was started
maliciously,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
CCTV was harvested which showed a male exiting Tir Connell through a
second storey window and climbing down scaffolding.
The perpetrator gained access after breaking a window in the front
door, the court heard.
As Det Garda Humphreys was returning to Mayorstone station from the
scene he saw a male wearing clothes - exactly matching those of the man
on CCTV - in the car-park of the Circle K in Thomondgate. The accused -
Mr Holland -was arrested and questioned. A lighter was found on his
person.
Mr Holland told gardai he had “no memory” of the arson but identified
himself on CCTV. “I was out of my mind,” he said.
The court heard Mr Holland had taken 15 tablets of street xanax
(benzos), had a row with his partner, took 15 more tablets and then
went begging for food to soak up the tablets on the night in question.
Mr Holland has 10 previous convictions for arson.
Det Garda Humphreys confirmed to Mr O’Sullivan renovations were ongoing
at Tir Connell and nobody was living there at the time. Mr O’Sullivan
said Tir Connell was extensively damaged and the interior completely
damaged.
Det Garda Humphreys said a preliminary cost of rectifying the damage
was €835,857.05
The prosecuting barrister said the attic of the adjoining property
(Glenlevan) was damaged by the fire. Det Garda Humphreys said he had
been in contact with Martin Quinn, a co-owner of Glenlevan, based at
Harvard University, but was unable to ascertain the cost .
Mr O’Sullivan read out a victim impact statement by Aoife Roberts on
behalf of herself and her husband, Michael Roberts, the owners of Tir
Connell.
[rain-3954273_1280-1703593648589.jpg--alert__met_eireann_issues_weather
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Alert: Met Éireann issues weather warning for Limerick as Storm Gerrit
approaches
She said they purchased the property as their “forever home” for
themselves and two children and hoped to move in in August 2023
following renovations.
It was their dream home but those hopes and dreams were shattered by
the fire, she said. The family went to the scene of the fire on April 4
which Ms Roberts said was like being “trapped in a horror film” as they
watched each floor disappear. She said they would be forever grateful
to Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and gardai.
Ms Roberts said they returned to their rental accommodation blackened
by smoke and couldn’t sleep as they had no idea why their house was
attacked. She addressed “unfounded gossip and fictitious rumours about
insurance claims on social media” in the victim impact statement.
Ms Roberts said they are “effectively homeless” with their belongings
in storage and living out of suitcases. The victim said their savings
had “gone up quite literally in smoke” and they have been left with a
charred carcass of a house. She said it took months for the insurers to
admit liability, described the enormous cost of restoring the historic
building but that the psychological effects could not be costed.
Ms Roberts said they had got incredible support from family and friends
but “this nightmare is ours and ours alone”. Whenever they are stuck in
traffic on the Ennis Road and see the “black and dilapidated eyesore”
they recall that horrible night.
Mr Holland’s barrister Liam Carroll said as far as arson is concerned
the burning of a house is the most serious.
“He is deeply, deeply sorry to Mr and Mrs Roberts and their family. He
knows he can do nothing about the fire damage. He hopes the cost of
repairs will be covered by insurance and they will be able to move in
in the future,” said Mr Carroll.
The barrister said his client was raised by a single mother unable to
look after him, often leaving him with adults taking substances.
“When he was 13/14 he would often travel to the east of the country,
take the ferry to England, make his way to London and take acid and LSD
on the streets of London. He realised he needed stability and planned
to move to America to live with his father. Just before he turned 18
his father was killed in a road traffic collision. He saw little hope
and began using drugs to a greater extent,” said Mr Carroll. He said Mr
Holland’s convictions occurred under the influence of drugs.
“Temporary pyromania is all I can describe it as. He doesn’t remember.
He blacks out. He had taken a concoction of heroin and benzos. His
behaviour is most disturbing. He doesn’t shy away from it,” said Mr
Carroll, who added that Mr Holland is addressing his drug addiction in
prison.
Judge O’Donnell said he found aspects of the case unusual,
extraordinary and very serious. He spoke of the damage to historic,
preserved properties due to the criminal actions of the accused.
Judge O’Donnell said the victim impact statement was lengthy, erudite
and gives a vivid picture of the psychological and financial impact of
his actions. The 10 previous convictions for arson were of enormous
concern, he said.
Judge O’Donnell imposed separate eight year jail sentences for the
arson attacks on Tir Connell and Glenlevan to be served concurrently.
All other matters were taken into consideration.