This article is from page 61 of the 2007-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
A COURT has heard that a man Set fire to a house in west Clare, causing more than €100,000 in the process.
Bart Russell (59), of The Mews, Kilrush Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to damaging a house by fire at Moy- glass Beg, Mullagh, in April 2005.
He also admitted a charge of crim- inal damage, at the same house, also in April 2005.
Sgt Joe Hehir told the court that the unoccupied house — the prop-
erty of Thomas and Mary Clancy — had been broken into and all the windows in the house had been bro- ken with a hammer.
Referring to the fire incident, he said the house was totally engulfed in flames and €120,000 damage was caused.
The court heard the accused is a voluntary patient in the acute psy- chiatric unit at Ennis General Hos- pital. He admitted his involvement in the incident.
Sgt Hehir said the injured parties have suffered gravely as a result of
what happened.
Defence barrister Michael Collins said his client suffers from bipolar disorder and has attempted suicide on a number of occasions.
“The case could not have been proved against him, but for his ad- missions,” said the barrister.
“This man is a serious risk to himself and needs active treatment, treatment he is getting at present,” he said.
He said his client was not a can- didate for an immediate custodial sentence and he said he was propos-
ing to the court that the psychiatric treatment would continue.
Judge Carroll Moran said he un- derstood the accused needed treat- ment and said he needed a sentence which was structured to include that treatment.
“We are going to try and help him, so long as he co-operates with us,” he said.
He adjourned the case until next month and ordered that the accused continue as a voluntary inpatient in the psychiatric unit, unless he 1s re- leased into the custody of his sister.