Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9464Arson · Co. Longford · 28 Jul 2024

Guo Zhong Chen pleads guilty to Grafton Court arson in Longford

A fire broke out at Grafton Court in Longford town on 28 July 2024, starting at the Oyama Sushi restaurant and causing approximately €3.5 million in damage to 19 business premises. Guo Zhong Chen, a man aged 57 according to the article text (55 in a photo caption), of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was charged on 8 August 2024 and has been in custody since. On 21 May 2026 he pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to arson at Grafton Court, and 11 of the 19 affected business owners gave victim impact statements. Sentencing will continue on 7 July, and he remains remanded in custody until then.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted21 May
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The fire caused approximately €3.5 million in damage and severely damaged 19 business premises.
Where
The fire at Grafton Court in Longford town originated at the Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant.
When
The arson took place on 28 July 2024.
Other details
  • Gardaí on patrol at about 1.27am noticed smoke from the Longford Shopping Centre car park.
  • Four people in the residential area over the shops were safely evacuated.
  • The proprietor of Oyama Sushi said she lost a total of €230,000.
  • Chen's age is given as 57 in the article text and 55 in a photo caption.
Cause
Gardaí believe a business disagreement was the catalyst for the fire, while the defence said the accused only intended to target one business.
Investigation
  • CCTV was obtained and canvassed, and a vehicle of interest was identified.
  • Blue latex gloves and a blue cigarette (described in another source as a blue cigarette lighter) were found after Chen tried to discard them, and the lighter was a positive DNA match for him.
  • Chen was interviewed by gardaí on five different occasions.
Charges
Guo Zhong Chen was charged on 8 August 2024 and has been in custody since.
In court
  • Chen pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to arson at Grafton Court on 28 July 2024, reported on 21 May 2026.
  • 11 of the 19 affected business owners gave victim impact statements.
Sentence
Sentencing will continue on 7 July, and Chen was remanded in custody until then.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Grafton Court fire caused approximately €3.5 million in damages. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe fire caused approximately €3.5 million in damage. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at Grafton Court in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe fire originated at the Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe fire occurred on July 28, 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe arson took place on 28 July 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí believe a business disagreement was the catalyst for the fire. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationChen was interviewed by gardaí on five different occasions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationBlue latex gloves and a blue cigarette were found after Chen tried to discard them. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe blue cigarette lighter was a positive DNA match for Chen. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationCCTV was obtained and canvassed, and a vehicle of interest was identified. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationBlue latex gloves and a blue cigarette were found after the defendant tried to discard them. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigation11 of the 19 affected business owners completed victim impact statements. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeGuo Zhong Chen pleaded guilty to arson that severely damaged 19 business premises. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeChen was charged on August 8, 2024 and has been in custody since. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeChen pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to arson at Grafton Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing will continue on 7 July, and Chen was remanded in custody until then. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí on patrol at about 1.27am noticed smoke from Longford Shopping Centre car park. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherFour people were in the residential area above the shops and were safely evacuated. (longfordleader.ie)
  • other11 of the 19 affected business owners gave victim impact statements. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe proprietor of Oyama Sushi said she lost a total of €230,000. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherFour people were in the residential area over the shops that night and were safely evacuated. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the accused only intended to target one business. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 May2026
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    'Business disagreement' sparked Longford arson attack which caused €3.5m damage

    Reports the guilty plea, the garda evidence on the motive and the investigation, and that the accused was remanded in custody pending sentencing on July 7.

    convicted, Guo Zhong Chen, 57, male, namedGuo Zhong Chenvictim, Heidi ZhouHeidi Zhouvictim, Simon WangSimon Wang
  2. 21 May2026
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford business owners describe 'devastating' impact of Grafton Court arson

    Reports victim impact statements from 11 of 19 affected business owners at a guilty-plea hearing; sentence not yet reported. The age of Guo Zhong Chen is given as 55 in the photo caption and 57 in the article text; the text figure is used here.

    convicted, Guo Zhong Chen, 57, male, namedGuo Zhong Chenvictim, Pauline Belton, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Beltonvictim, Heidi Zhou, femaleHeidi Zhou