A judge has told a man who set a fire on a balcony that there was a “significant chance of fatalities” if the flat’s occupants were not aware and raised the alarm, reports Breaking News.
Jason Hughes (20) of Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, Dublin, aged 24, pleaded guilty to one count of arson on December 9, 2022, at Park na Green, Tallaght.
It is an offence punishable with imprisonment for life
Sentencing on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said Hughes entered the apartment “for reasons only known to himself” with “some sort of petrol bomb or flammable substance” that caused the fire, reports Breaking News.
Judge Nolan said arson is a “very serious crime” because “the problem with fire is that once it starts, no one knows where it’s going to stop”.
Garda Aaron Mullen told solicitor Aoife McNicol BL that gardaí were called to the Pyrk na Green complex after receiving a call about the fire.
When they arrived at 7:20 am, the fire brigade put out the fire in the ground floor apartment. Fire service officials told gardaí the fire had spread internally and was burning from the front to the rear.
The woman told gardaí she was shouting and making noises to alert neighbours.
Her partner said she heard her yell “fire, fire, get out.” He told gardaí he felt a gust of wind and knew the fire would spread quickly so he ran outside.
The apartment and its contents were severely damaged.
GDA Mullen said tenants were “left with nothing” and items including Christmas presents were damaged. Photos of the apartment have been submitted to the court.
Gardaí have not been able to determine the cause of the incident. The court heard the man living at the property is Hughes’ father, reports Breaking News.
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