A woman seen on live surveillance setting fire to a power box mounted on a pole containing a Garda camera has been sentenced to one year in prison, reports Breaking News.
Celine Carroll (46) was caught on camera igniting one power box and was also seen attempting to light a second one. Gardaí monitoring the footage from Ballyfermot Garda Station observed the incident in real-time.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told the damage caused by Carroll amounted to €25,000, reports Breaking News.
Carroll, from Cherry Orchard Avenue in Ballyfermot, admitted to committing arson at Cherry Orchard Parade on January 18th, 2018. She has 39 prior convictions.
While delivering the sentence on Thursday, Judge Elva Duffy said Carroll had made a conscious decision to start the fires and had caused considerable harm. She also considered Carroll’s apology and her personal background, reports Breaking News.
Judge Duffy acknowledged that Carroll had been taking some steps to improve her situation and had started addressing her addiction. A prison term of two and a half years was handed down, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions.
Garda Niall Dillon testified to Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that gardaí monitoring cameras in the early morning hours witnessed Carroll trying to ignite a fire, while a second blaze had already started. Gardaí went to the location. Two individuals, Carroll and a man, ran off into a housing estate near Cherry Orchard Parade, reports Breaking News.
TheLiberal.ie won’t quit
Please support us with a small donation on PayPal!
Their movements were tracked using Garda cameras, and they were seen entering the front yard of a nearby residence. When gardaí approached, Carroll jumped over railings and tried to escape.
She was caught after a brief chase, during which she tripped on a kerb. During her arrest, she resisted aggressively by kicking, spitting, and yelling abuse at the gardaí. Although she was placed in a patrol car, she escaped while officers were detaining her male companion, reports Breaking News.
She was soon apprehended again and continued to fight with gardaí until she was fully restrained and brought to the station. At the station, she kept shouting and spitting, and even struck a garda in the face with her head.
Carroll told officers she was “playing with fire” and claimed she had “nothing else to do.” She admitted targeting the locations because of the surveillance cameras. She denied being paid or owing anyone money, reports Breaking News.
She explained that she used rubbish, tissues, tyres, and a lighter to ignite the pole.
The court learned that proceedings had been delayed after Carroll evaded authorities, prompting a bench warrant, reports Breaking News.
Kevin McCrave BL, defending, said Carroll had endured a troubled childhood, and several of her relatives had died by suicide.
He stated she became addicted to heroin at 16 and recognized she was living on “borrowed time.” He said she is tired of addiction and wants to break free from the cycle.
The defence counsel noted she had been very intoxicated the night of the incident and accepts full responsibility. He said she wishes to apologise sincerely. She is now open to entering treatment and engaging with services to overcome her addiction, reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
