Man (35) jailed for setting ex-girlfriend's car on fire

By Claire Henry

A man who set his ex-girlfriend's car on fire has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Kevin Kinsella (35) of Annesley Close, Ballybough, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to one count of arson committed in the Summerhill area of Dublin on July 2nd, 2024.

He has 21 previous convictions.

Garda Shane Costello told Karl Moran, BL, prosecuting, that he was on patrol on the night in question when he saw the car on fire.

A man who was later identified as Kinsella was standing beside the front driver's door with flames coming from the car.

The court heard that a window in the car was broken and  Kinsella had a lump hammer in his hand, which he then discarded under the car.

Kinsella was arrested at the scene, and gardaí noted a strong smell of petrol on him, and he had singed and burned both the hair on his arms and some of his clothing.

In total, €4,500 worth of damage was caused to the car.

Gda Costello agreed with Pieter Le Vert, BL, defending that his client drove his own car to the scene and set light to his ex-partner's car. He also agreed that Kinsella was very intoxicated and could not be interviewed for six hours upon his arrest.

The Gda agreed that the injured party's insurance paid €3000 in insurance compensation, and Kinsella was repaying the rest of the money.

Mr Le Vert told the court that his client has worked since he completed his junior certificate and developed a difficulty with drugs and alcohol. At the time of the offence, he was under financial pressure and had relapsed

A letter of apology was handed into the court. Mr LeVert said his client knows how serious this case is and asked the court to consider his client's guilty plea, remorse, and contributions to society.

Judge Martin Nolan said that, to his credit, this defendant has pleaded guilty. He has a strong work history and has contributed to his local area and community.

The judge said, “I don’t believe that he will reoffend to this extent in the future. He noted that arson is a very serious crime and said, “When you set fire to something, nobody knows where it will go.”

Judge Nolan said there was good mitigation in the case, but highlighted that “No one can commit arson. He sentenced him to sixteen months in prison.