Man remanded further on arson charge relating to Co Cork house fire

A 40-year-old man charged in relation to an attack at a house in Cork where there was €550,000 worth of fire damage was remanded in custody for another fortnight.

Paul McCarthy, of 40 Dowth Avenue, Cabra, Dublin, was remanded in custody by Judge Mary Dorgan until then on a charge of arson at Fernbrook, Ballincrokig, Co Cork, on April 24.

Nicholas Hall, barrister, complained of delay and applied to have the matter made peremptory against the State — an application refused by Judge Dorgan.

Detective Garda Brian Murphy objected to bail when the matter first came before Cork District Court, saying: “It is alleged that Paul McCarthy drove from Dublin, passing the Watergrasshill toll at 8.30pm.

“At 9pm the car arrives at the house and three people exit. Two enter the curtilage of the property and ignited two glass petrol bombs with a blowtorch.

“They smashed a bedroom window and threw in these petrol bombs.

“The third person — believed to be Paul McCarthy — stands close to the vehicle and allegedly films the incident on his mobile phone.“The Skoda Octavia enters the Plaza filling station in Portlaoise just before midnight and Paul McCarthy is identified, filling the car with €30 of diesel and leaving without paying.”

A man aged 87 and his 86-year-old wife were watching television in the house at the time. The house was quickly engulfed in flames, but they were unharmed.

Paul McCarthy’s next court appearance will be by video link from prison on August 6.