‘Horror film’ as Limerick home is destroyed by 'pyromaniac'

A “PYROMANIAC” who caused hundreds of thousands of euros in fire damage to two protected three-storey Georgian properties and turned a family’s forever home into a “black and dilapidated eyesore” has been jailed.

The owners of Tir Connell on the Ennis Road in Limerick city said it was like being trapped in a horror film as they watched their dream home and savings “go up quite literally in smoke”.

Darren Holland, aged 41, of Cliona Park, Moyross pleaded guilty to the arson of Tir Connell and Glenlevan, Ennis Road, criminal damage and burglary at Tir Connell, and attempted burglary at a third property on the Ennis Road.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Ronan Humphreys at Limerick Circuit Court.

Mr O’Sullivan said emergency services received reports of a fire at a three-storey Georgian house on the Ennis Road, Limerick city shortly before 10pm on April 4, 2023.

“Numerous units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance to quench the fire. It was discovered the fire was started maliciously,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

CCTV was harvested which showed a male exiting Tir Connell through a second storey window and climbing down scaffolding.

The perpetrator gained access after breaking a window in the front door, the court heard.

As Det Garda Humphreys was returning to Mayorstone station from the scene he saw a male wearing clothes - exactly matching those of the man on CCTV - in the car-park of the Circle K in Thomondgate. The accused - Mr Holland -was arrested and questioned. A lighter was found on his person.

Mr Holland told gardai he had “no memory” of the arson but identified himself on CCTV. “I was out of my mind,” he said.

The court heard Mr Holland had taken 15 tablets of street xanax (benzos), had a row with his partner, took 15 more tablets and then went begging for food to soak up the tablets on the night in question.

Mr Holland has 10 previous convictions for arson.

Det Garda Humphreys confirmed to Mr O’Sullivan renovations were ongoing at Tir Connell and nobody was living there at the time. Mr O’Sullivan said Tir Connell was extensively damaged and the interior completely damaged.

Det Garda Humphreys said a preliminary cost of rectifying the damage was €835,857.05

The prosecuting barrister said the attic of the adjoining property (Glenlevan) was damaged by the fire. Det Garda Humphreys said he had been in contact with Martin Quinn, a co-owner of Glenlevan, based at Harvard University, but was unable to ascertain the cost .

Mr O’Sullivan read out a victim impact statement by Aoife Roberts on behalf of herself and her husband, Michael Roberts, the owners of Tir Connell.

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She said they purchased the property as their “forever home” for themselves and two children and hoped to move in in August 2023 following renovations.

It was their dream home but those hopes and dreams were shattered by the fire, she said. The family went to the scene of the fire on April 4 which Ms Roberts said was like being “trapped in a horror film” as they watched each floor disappear. She said they would be forever grateful to Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and gardai.

Ms Roberts said they returned to their rental accommodation blackened by smoke and couldn’t sleep as they had no idea why their house was attacked. She addressed “unfounded gossip and fictitious rumours about insurance claims on social media” in the victim impact statement.

Ms Roberts said they are “effectively homeless” with their belongings in storage and living out of suitcases. The victim said their savings had “gone up quite literally in smoke” and they have been left with a charred carcass of a house. She said it took months for the insurers to admit liability, described the enormous cost of restoring the historic building but that the psychological effects could not be costed.

Ms Roberts said they had got incredible support from family and friends but “this nightmare is ours and ours alone”. Whenever they are stuck in traffic on the Ennis Road and see the “black and dilapidated eyesore” they recall that horrible night.

Mr Holland’s barrister Liam Carroll said as far as arson is concerned the burning of a house is the most serious.

“He is deeply, deeply sorry to Mr and Mrs Roberts and their family. He knows he can do nothing about the fire damage. He hopes the cost of repairs will be covered by insurance and they will be able to move in in the future,” said Mr Carroll.

The barrister said his client's convictions occurred under the influence of drugs.

"Temporary pyromania is all I can describe it as. He doesn’t remember. He blacks out. He had taken a concoction of heroin and benzos. His behaviour is most disturbing. He doesn’t shy away from it,” said Mr Carroll, who added that Mr Holland is addressing his drug addiction in prison.

Judge O’Donnell said he found aspects of the case unusual, extraordinary and very serious. He spoke of the damage to historic, preserved properties due to the criminal actions of the accused.

Judge O’Donnell said the victim impact statement was lengthy, erudite and gives a vivid picture of the psychological and financial impact of his actions. The 10 previous convictions for arson were of enormous concern, he said.

Judge O’Donnell imposed separate eight year jail sentences for the arson attacks on Tir Connell and Glenlevan to be served concurrently. All other matters were taken into consideration.