Cork man accused of arson remanded in custody

A MAN accused of setting fire to a house in Cork city where four people were celebrating Christmas Day was remanded in custody until April 10.

The accused was refused bail at Cork District Court and last week Shane Casey’s solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, indicated that the accused would be applying to the High Court for bail.

In relation to the arson charge, it was alleged that he set fire to the house and stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him: “You are going to die here tonight.”

These were the allegations made by Detective Garda Brian Barron in the case.

It was alleged by Det Garda Barron that 32-year-old Shane Casey, of 168 Shanowen, Rathcormac, Co Cork, turned up outside the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023. Four people were present in the house.

“At 6.05pm, he exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold,” Det Garda Barron said.

“At 6.06pm, it is alleged that he closes the front door and attempts to barricade the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door,” he said.

“It is alleged he takes a blade from his pocket and holds it out in front of him and waits outside.

“At 6.08pm, the front door bursts open and [one of the men] attempts to escape the now blazing house.

“It was alleged he said (to one injured party), ‘My name is Shane Casey and you remember me from two days ago — you are going to die here tonight’,” Det Garda Barron said.

It was further alleged that one woman had to be rescued from the roof and that it took six units of the fire service more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe and the fire caused thousands of euro in damage, the detective said.