Three-year suspended sentence for man who set 'wrong' house on fire
A man who set the "wrong" neighbour's house on fire with a petrol bomb while young children were sleeping inside has been given a three-year suspended sentence.
James Dorrington (aged 21) of Liscarne Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing criminal damage to a roof as well as possession of a firearm.
He was given a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €2,500 compensation to the family.
Garda Rachel Capriani told Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, prosecuting, that the incident occurred during the early hours of that morning.
She said that Mrs Bernie Highland of Greenford Close, Clondalkin, was watching television when a neighbour called to the door to tell her that the roof was on fire.
Her husband woke up and helped put out the fire with a bucket of water. The couple's two young children were asleep upstairs during the incident.
Garda Capriani told the court that a serious feud had existed between the Dorrington family and the Costello family, who lived next door to the Highlands.
She said that Dorrington had drunk 10 pints of Guinness and was angry about an earlier incident involving his sister and a member of the Costello family.
The court heard that Dorrington had intended to throw the petrol bomb at the Costello's house but accidentally hit the roof of the neighbouring Highlands.
Gda Capriani said they searched Dorrington's house after the incident and found the makings of a petrol bomb, a mini crossbow and a can of pepper spray.
Garda Caprani told Mr Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, that Dorrington had three previous convictions but none were of a serious nature.
She said that he expressed remorse over what happened and had offered to pay for any damages to the Highland family’s home.
She also said that during the interview Dorrington asked about the well-being of the people living in the house he had set on fire. He said: "It was the wrong house. I didn't mean to hit them".
Mr Dwyer said that Dorrington has not been in trouble since and also presented two letters of reference.
Judge Patrick McCartan said: "This is an appalling incident for a number of reasons. Firstly because a house was attacked with petrol bomb while young children were sleeping inside.”
He added: "Secondly, the attack was on an innocent family. This was an appalling way to settle a score between two families who live in the same community.”
He said that the attack was "extremely foolish" and had the potential to cause "serious loss of life".
He warned Dorrington to stay away from the Cosetellos and said he would serve the full sentence if he gets in trouble again.
