This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A MAN who set fire to a house, forestry and bogland in west Clare within an eight-hour period after he “lost control” has been jailed for three years.
Patrick McNamara (30), of Lisgreen, Lisdeen, Kilkee, and also of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to damaging a house, by fire, at Lisgreen, Lisdeen, on March 19 last. The estimated damage caused was up to €60,000. He also admitted burning two hectares of forestry, at Monmore South, Kilrush, and bogland, at Tullaher, Doonbeg, on March 18.
Detective Garda Michael McDonagh said the accused brought gardaí to the scenes of the fires.
“He was going through great difficulty in his life at the time,” said the garda. “He is not your average criminal that I would be dealing with every day. He is a man who has committed crime but I believe he makes nothing out of it. He always admits his involvement,” he added.
He said it would cost €2,000 per hectare to restore the forestry.
Garda Michael Ryan, who investigated the Lisgreen house fire, said McNamara stole diesel from a building site in Doonbeg, drove to Lisgreen, poured the diesel around the house and on hay and set it alight.
Gardai did not realise the bog fires were deliberate until they began to investigate the house fire.
Defending Barrister Mark Nicholas said his client regretted his actions and called the emergency services after he set fire to the house.
He said McNamara had a row with someone in Kilkee and “flipped and lost control…lost all sense of responsibility for a period of six to eight hours.”
The court heard that McNamara has several previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, while he has also convictions for deception.
Judge Carroll Moran said McNamara, “doesn’t appreciate the duty to observe the law and keep out of trouble.” He said if he had not pleaded guilty, he could be facing a term of up to seven years in jail. He imposed a three-year jail term.