Man who caused €7k arson damage in Blackpool is jailed

Arson damage of €7,000 was caused to a housing development in Blackpool by a drunken man who climbed into the site and caused the fire.

The culprit has been jailed for a year after he pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage by arson at a building under construction in the Blackpool area.

40-year-old Edward Keenan of 22 St John’s Well, Blackpool, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Sinead Behan in Cork Circuit Criminal Court to two years in prison with the last year suspended.

Detective Garda Brian Murphy said that Mr Keenan had been known to gardaí for the past 20 years and he has addiction problems.

Defence barrister Niamh Stewart said: “He has a drugs and drink addiction. He is attending Cork Alliance. This is against a background of a long history of addiction.

“He accepted full responsibility for his actions which were reckless in causing damage to the property. He did it out of recklessness rather than a malicious intent.”

This was accepted by the prosecution and noted by the sentencing judge.

Judge Behan said that the monitoring and alarm system and the fast response of An Garda Síochána prevented the damage from being any greater than the €7,000 loss that was caused.

Judge Behan said that the fact that it was quickly brought under control was no credit to Edward Keenan and she said his actions could have caused much more extensive property damage if not loss of life.

The charge which Mr Keenan admitted was one of causing criminal damage by arson at the property under construction on May 25, 2023, at the junction of Thomas Davis St and Spring Lane, Blackpool, Cork.

A condition of the suspension of the second half of the sentence requires him to avail of addiction services and comply with the directions of the probation service.