Arsonist who precipitated €130,000 of harm to be sentenced

A person who’s charged with inflicting €130,000 to a home in an arson assault has been given ‘one final likelihood’ after breaching his bail circumstances.

Glen Friel, a 23-year-old whose handle is given as ‘no fastened’ abode, was arrested on Monday and introduced earlier than Tuesday’s sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court docket, the place a bail software on his behalf was made.

The court docket heard that Friel has dedicated 4 offences, together with one other arson, because the incident at Straleeny, Killybegs on April 22, 2020. Friel has pleaded responsible to that offence.

In objecting to bail, Gardai knowledgeable the court docket that Friel has not signed on at a Garda station since regardless of being due to take action twice per week.

Ten earlier bench warrants have been in existence and he has been charged with 4 offenses – prison injury, specifically arson; two public order offenses; and one for failing to look at court docket – since this incident.

The court docket was knowledgeable that Friel has two earlier convictions for failing to look. Friel was arrested on Bridge Road, Donegal City at 1.30pm on Monday on foot of a bench warrant.

Gardai objected to bail as a result of seriousness of the offence, the truth that he had dedicated 4 offences whereas on bail, that he has not been complying with bail and his historical past of non-compliance.

Mr Peter Nolan BL, barrister for Friel, stated his consumer suffers from a psychological well being sickness and is present process remedy.

Mr Nolan stated Friel has been dwelling and dealing in Letterkenny and is coping with his issues ‘as finest as he can’. Mr Nolan stated Friel doesn’t know his dad and mom and lives together with his brother who was described as being ‘supportive’.

Mr Nolan stated Friel had beforehand been granted bail by the District Court docket. “Jail can be completely disastrous,” Mr Nolan stated.

Friel took to the witness field and stated he hadn’t appeared at court docket on two dates in December 2022 as he ‘wasn’t nicely’. He instructed the court docket that he hasn’t labored since final 12 months. Friel stated he was unaware that he2 was attributable to signal on and instructed Choose John Aylmer that he was ready to abide by circumstances set by the court docket.

Mr Nolan requested the court docket to be as lenient as attainable and stated stringent circumstances could possibly be imposed.

Choose Aylmer famous that Friel ‘wasn’t hiding from Gardai’ and has a ‘very important historical past of psychological well being points’.

“I’ll give him one final likelihood,” Choose Aylmer stated. “I’ll give him the good thing about doubt, however the court docket could be very involved.”

Friel was ordered to abstain from alcohol and unprescribed medicine and should signal on day by day at an agreed Garda station. Friel is to not apply for a passport and warned that bail will likely be revoked if he commits one other offence.

The matter was adjourned till the December sitting of Donegal Circuit Court docket when Friel will likely be sentenced.

Arsonist who precipitated €130,000 of harm to be sentenced was final modified: June twenty eighth, 2023 by Employees Author