A man set fire to a shed in the Ballybane Community Garden, causing more than €2,500 worth of damage, in retaliation for difficulties he was having with his estranged wife who had an involvement in the project, the Galway District Court heard this week.
Martin Donovan (34 ) with an address at 46 Beal Srutha, Ballybane, appeared at Galway District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to entering a building to comit an offence and to arson on March 22, 2011, and was later ordered to come up with at least one-fifth of the money needed to replace the shed and tools.
Garda Declan Mulligan told the court that at 10.50pm he had been on patrol in the Castlepark Road area when he looked into the Ballybane Community Gardens and saw a shed on fire and then spotted the defendant attempting to flee the scene. When apprehended Donovan admitted starting the fire with a cigarette lighter because he had been having difficulties with his wife.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client and his wife had been having difficulties at the time and that Donovan himself had been involved in the community project. She added that Donovan was sorry for what he did and that he will help to assist the project. Ms Corcoran explained that Donovan had been very depressed at the time, that he had been “out of it” and that he did this without any planning.
“This is a community project that has been going for the last number of years. The people involved cultivate vegetables for the local markets and would be very proud of it. I will want compensation to be paid,” said Judge Mary Fahy.
Inspector Ernie White said that Donovan has 15 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences, however there was a conviction for possession of a knife in May 2009 for which he received a five-month suspended sentence.
“He is among that community himself and it is important that he pay compensation. It was misplaced judgement on his part. This is no way to deal with anything,” said Judge Fahy.
Garda Mulligan said that he has been given a list of the damage which includes the shed itself and a number of tools, coming to more than €2,500.
Referring to this list, Ms Corcoran said: “I have been through that list, it seems more like a bucket list rather than a list of loss”. Judge Fahy replied that considering the cost of buying garden sheds these days, a figure of €500 to replace this particular shed, which was completely destroyed, seems very reasonable. However, Judge Fahy then asked Garda Mulligan to recheck and confirm that all items on the list are ones that need replacing.
Donovan was remanded on continuing bail to February 6 next year for the payment of €500. If paid it is believed that the matter would be dealt with by way of a community service order as, according to Judge Fahy, this would be “more beneficial to the community”.
