This article is from page 4 of the 2013-05-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A MAN who set fire to property owned by a man who harassed his mother did so out of “loyalty and love for his mother”, a court has heard.
Judge Patrick Durcan said he accepted that 21-year- old Aaron Moylan had a certain “motivation” for damaging garden sheds at The Hawthorns, Limerick Road Ennis on June 27, 2012. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Mr Moylan, with an address at 8 Abbey Court, Ennis pleaded guilty to two charges of damaging two garden sheds by fire.
Judge Durcan this was a “very seri- ous and dangerous offence to commit.”
The court heard that Mr Moylan set fire to a garden shed owned by former Dell worker William Keane (40). In January, Mr Keane, with an address at the Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to harassment of a woman.
The incidents occurred over a 12month period on dates unknown between October 1 (2011) and September 1 (2012).
Mr Keane was ordered by Judge Durcan not to have any contact with the injured party. On Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Moylan had an issue with a person living in The Hawthorns who had been involved in a relationship with his mother.
Insp Kennedy said that Mr Moylan went to the man’s property and set fire to the shed with a small bit of fuel and a lighter.
A shed in a neighbouring house was also damaged by fire as a result of the incident. Mr Moylan has no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that William Keane had harassed and stalked her client’s mother. She said the woman installed CCTV at her home because she was afraid of Mr Keane.
She said Mr Moylan had “cracked.” “He did what he felt would attack Mr Keane’s sense of security,” she added.
Inspector Kennedy said a certain amount of provocation could be attributed to Mr Moylan’s actions.
He added, “Mr Moylan was way out of order in going to set fire to this property. It was very dangerous and could have got out of control.”
Judge Patrick Durcan said, “I accept his motivation was out of loyalty and love for his mother….but I also agree this was a very serious and dangerous offence to commit.”
Judge Durcan adjourned the case until September 4 to allow time for compensation to be paid.