Rathcormac man pleads guilty to charges connected to Cork city arson attack

A 32-year-old man facing the prospect of trial by judge and jury for attempted murder arising out of an arson attack on a house in Cork city on Christmas Day 2023 confessed to other related charges today.

Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, County Cork, was arraigned on three charges at the Central Criminal Court today and pleaded guilty to all three of them.

He did not plead guilty to another charge on the indictment – namely the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, a man in his 60s, owner of the house at Dyke Parade, Cork, where the arson was carried out.

However, defence senior counsel Ray Boland conceded that the plea of guilty to certain charges was entered on the basis that the full facts of the case would be given at the sentencing hearing.

Mr Boland asked for free legal aid to be extended to include the preparation of a psychiatric report on Shane Casey.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon acceded to that application. The case was adjourned until October 6 when it is anticipated a date will be set for sentencing.

Detective Garda Brian Barron originally charged Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, County Cork, with the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, but there was no plea to that charge. 

There was a plea of guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Mr Murphy, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and finally causing criminal damage to the house and neighbouring properties with intent to endanger life.

It was previously alleged when the case first came before the courts that the accused set fire to the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023 when four people were present in the house and that the accused man stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him: “You are going to die here tonight.” 

Referring to CCTV and other evidence, Detective Garda Barron said: “At 6.05pm, he exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold. At 6.06pm, it is alleged that he closes the front door and attempts to barricaded the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door.

“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.'” 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.

Jane Hyland, prosecution senior counsel, said that victim impact statements would be prepared in advance of sentencing.

This case had been listed for trial by judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court on June 18 but it will now be removed from that list.