An East Clare-based Garda had her private car burnt out in an arson attack at a Garda station hours after she seized a vehicle that was without insurance or no tax.
In the case, Garda Aine Troy had her Renault Megane Saloon car burnt out at Scarriff Garda Station in the early hours of March 19th 2013.
In the case, father of three, Neil Kelly (40) of Bohatch, Mountshannon pleaded guilty to the arson of Garda Troy’s car at Scarriff Garda Station.
A second man, Brian Moloney (36) of Bohatch, Mountshannon pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of Garda Troy’s car and of criminal damage of Scariff Garda station after breaking two windows at the station.
Garda Troy’s car was torched only hours after she had seized a car that was without insurance or tax.
Mr Kelly and Mr Moloney were passengers in the car that was searched at a service station one km from Scarriff station.
Garda Troy was by herself and asked for assistance in the search of the car and was told over the Garda radio that it would take 10 minutes for assistance to come.
Det Sgt Oliver Nevin told the court that Mr Moloney said at that moment “a lot can happen in 10 minutes’.
Later after Garda Troy told Kelly, Moloney and the driver of the car that it was going to be seized, Mr Moloney told another Garda at the scene “you’ll see a silver spark later and you will know who did it”.
Det Nevin said that Garda Troy felt very vulnerable and very intimidated at the scene.
Det Nevin said that the Moloney and Kelly went for a drink in a local pub and a barman observed that there were quite annoyed over the car being seized.
He said that a short time later in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a Garda mobile patrol witnessed Garda Troy’s car engulfed in flames in the grounds of the local station.
Det Nevin said: “Neil Kelly does admit that he did sprinkle the front of the car with patrol and at that stage, the car was set alight.”
Garda Troy was due to get married soon after the incident and Det Nevin said that Mr Moloney spotted a flower girl’s dress in the car and broke the window to take it out.
Det Nevin said that Garda Troy “was upset and traumatised over the incident”.
Judge Gerard Keyes said before he passes sentence, he wants the two men to pay compensation to Garda Troy.
Det Nevin said that the bill alone from the fire service to attend to the scene was €1,994.
Counsel for Mr Kelly, Brian McInerney BL said in four weeks, Mr Kelly will have €5,000 for Garda Troy.
Mr McInerney said: “This is a serious matter. It was disgraceful behaviour on Mr Kelly’s part. He was completely out of order.”
Counsel for Mr Moloney, Lorcan Connolly BL said that his client’s behaviour was “outrageous” on the night and he would like to apologise for his smartalec and offensive behaviour.
Judge Keyes adjourned the case to April to allow the two men pay compensation to Garda Troy and remanded the two on bail.
