Man charged with criminal damage in relation to fatal Edenderry fire

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

A man has been charged with criminal damage in relation to a house fire in Co Offaly in which a woman and child died.

Four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and his great-aunt Mary Holt, 60, were killed in the blaze at Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6th.

Michael Dunne, aged 22 with an address in Co Kildare, appeared before Tullamore District Court on Friday, charged with two offences of criminal damage by arson and endangerment in relation to the case.

Detective Garda Tom Dunne said he arrested the accused at 12.30pm and charged him at 1.08pm.

There was no application for bail, and he was remanded in custody ahead of the next court appearance on Wednesday, May 6th, where he is to appear via videolink.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed a restriction on reporting the details of the accused’s address.

During the brief hearing, the defendant’s legal representative also made a request to the judge for an anonymity order to be granted to the defendant’s legal team.

She said they were a local legal team and they would have “concerns” if they were named in relation to the “very contentious, dangerous, local feud”.

She also noted that there was no objection from the State’s representatives to the request.

The judge refused to grant the order and said it was not practicable or enforceable, as the solicitors would be back before the courts again in relation to the case when there would be around 200 people in the courthouse.

Three other men and a teenage boy arrested this week in connection with the incident remain in custody.