Cork man charged after videos of arson attacks found on phone, court hears

Videos of two arsons were found on the phone of a man who was brought before Cork District Court on Tuesday charged with carrying out the crimes at a house where a woman lives with her young children.

It was alleged that the arsons were carried out because of a drugs debt.

Dean Aherne, aged 30, of 23 Chuchfield Green, Churchfield, Cork, denied responsibility for causing the criminal damage by fire to a house at The Greens, Little Island, Co Cork, and an earlier incident where a car parked outside the house was burnt out.

Garda Amy Quinn objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and saying she feared for the complainant’s safety if Mr Aherne were released

Mr Aherne said in his application for bail — made through his solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher: “I am no harm to anyone. I want to be out to put flowers on my mother’s grave (for her third anniversary).” 

Regarding the arson allegations, he said: “The woman made contact with me to come down to the house. I won’t go near anyone. I swear on the Bible, I won’t go near her.

“My phone was seized. There is a video of who done it. The guard knows I was not the one who done it. There are two fellas on the video and I was not one of them.

“I didn’t touch her car. I didn’t touch her house. I didn’t touch any of her property.”

 Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded him in custody until April 21 for DPP directions.

Garda Quinn outlined the allegations in the case in the course of the objection to bail: “At approximately 10.40pm on April 9, the 39-year-old female injured party was at home at The Green, Little Island, Cork, with her children when she heard somebody banging at her front door. 

"She ran to the front door and looked out the glass in the front door. A male was shouting outside the front door that he was going to kill the injured party and that he had a gun. 

"The injured party allegedly recognised the voice as that of Dean Aherne who she personally knew. When she had looked out the glass in the door she alleged that she could tell it was Dean Aherne despite the fact that the glass wasn't clear.

“The injured party ran to the door of the front room to get one of her children and saw Dean Aherne standing at the front window shouting. The injured party ran upstairs with her children and looked out the front window. She alleges that she saw Dean Aherne setting her car on fire which resulted in the car being completely burnt out.

“At approximately 12.10am on April 12, it is alleged that Dean Aherne and two other males approached the home of the injured party where it is alleged that Dean Aherne poured an accelerant on the front door of the injured party's home and then lit it. 

"A fire took hold but fortunately was put out quickly by the injured party's family. The fire caused extensive damage to the front door, overhead PVC panelling in the porch outside the front door, and to PVC surrounds on the sitting room window.

“The injured party has alleged that the arsons at her home are as a result of a drug debt.

“Videos have been discovered of both arsons on Dean Aherne's mobile phone.”