A MAN who set fire to a house while he was locked inside the property, causing €30,000 worth of damage, has been jailed for two years.
Edward Campion, (38), pleaded guilty to one count of arson at a house owned by Limerick City and County Council, at Island Road, Limerick City, on January 5, 2021.
Campion, of no fixed abode, found himself locked into the property on the morning in question before he set fire to it using accelerant, which was discovered by fire authorities during a subsequent forensic examination of the scene.
A number of brave by-passers gained entry to the house to check for casualties after they saw smoke and flames billowing out of the house, however they could not get upstairs due to the severity of the fire.
Firefighters who responded to the scene using breathing apparatus found Campion under a mattress in an upstairs bedroom suffering fro smoke inhalation.
Campion refused oxygen at the scene and spent six weeks in hospital where he was questioned by gardai and admitted he had started the fire.
A forensic analysis of the scene conducted by the fire service revealed that Campion used an abundance of accelerant to sat the fire which burned through the upstairs floors.
Campion initially told gardai that he started the fire “to protect” himself telling gardai he his life was under threat.
In a later interview with Gardai, Campion said the fire started when he accidentally dropped a “joint” he was smoking.
Later on he changed his story again and told Gardai that he may have been “drugged” by a third party, and that a doctor told him in the hospital that while he had no burn injuries, he had injuries consistent with being struck with a blunt object – all unfounded claims, the court heard.
“Medical reports showed he suffered no injuries except for breathing injuries,” said prosecution barrister, John O’Sullivan BL, instructed by state solicitor for Limerick city, Padraig Mawe.
Gardai told the court they suspected Campion was “struggling with mental health difficulties and was heavily reliant on drugs” at the time.
Campion had 11 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, but gardai agreed he was not well known to them.
Campion’s barrister, Pat Barriscale, said Campion instructed him that “he was off his head (on drugs) and couldn’t say why he did it”
“He has significantly reduced his drug taking, the occasional smoke is all he engages in,” the barrister said. He has a number of kids, he is hopeful of a job in a warehouse, he assures me he is hopeful for the future,” Mr Barriscale added.
Judge Colin Daly said: “Arson is a most serous offence, it’s dangerous and unpredictable nature adds to the seriousness of the offence – it was a danger to neighbouring homes, the passers-by as well as the emergency services who responded, they were all put at risk.”
“Thankfully no one was harmed, save for the accused. The accused deliberately started the fire but he was suffering from poor mental health at the time which no doubt was exacerbated by his issue of drugs,” the judge said.
Judge Daly said he was satisfied to impose a headline sentence of four years, which he reduced to three years, suspending the final 12 months.
“I accept he (Campion) didn’t put others in danger, that he was using drugs at the time, but a probation report indicates he continues to use cannabis, at least,” the judge said.
“He (Campion) has not taken steps to deal with his underlying problems and I am concerned at his apparent lack of empathy for the amount of damage caused.”
Judge Daly also directed that Campion keep the peace and engage with the probation services for one year after his sentence ends, or the one year suspended from his sentence could be activated.
