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. 8694Arson · Co. Longford · 28 Jul 2024

Guo Zhong Chen sentenced over Grafton Court arson in Longford

At about 1.30am on 28 July 2024, a fire started in a gated laneway beside Oyama Sushi at Grafton Court in Longford town and caused €3.5m in damage across 19 businesses, including the Grafters Hair Salon owned by Pauline Belton, a woman. Guo Zhong Chen, a Chinese man of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, aged 55 according to some reports and 57 according to others, was arrested on 8 August 2024 and later pleaded guilty to arson. Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court sentenced Chen on 7 July 2026 to 10.5 years with the final 18 months suspended, though one report gives a sentence of nine years, and backdated it to 8 August 2024. The latest development is that Chen will be placed on an 18-month probation supervision bond after his release, and Ms Belton said she was 'quite happy' with the sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Jul
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The fire caused €3.5m in damage and affected 19 businesses, 11 of which gave victim impact statements.
  • Pauline Belton's Grafters Hair Salon in Longford Town, which she had owned and run for almost 25 years, was completely destroyed.
Where
The fire started in a gated laneway beside Oyama Sushi at Grafton Court in Longford town.
When
The fire took place at about 1.30am on 28 July 2024.
Cause
The judge said the arson was premeditated and a crime of spite and revenge, and gardaí said there were tensions between Chen and a former business partner before the fire.
Investigation
  • Gardaí tracked Chen on CCTV from Mullingar to Longford and back, and gloves and a cigarette lighter he discarded were recovered and linked to him.
  • A gas canister found at the scene is believed to have acted as an accelerant, and the fire spread quickly through a grease extraction fan.
  • Chen was arrested and interviewed by gardaí on 8 August 2024 and denied any involvement in the fire.
Charges
Chen pleaded guilty to arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1991 that caused €3.5 million in damage, and a charge of criminal damage to a Range Rover on 7 July was taken into consideration.
In court
Chen appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court, where he apologised in a letter through his barrister.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years, mitigated to 10.5 years with the final 18 months suspended; one report instead says he was jailed for nine years.
  • The sentence was backdated to 8 August 2024, and Chen will be placed on an 18-month probation supervision bond after his release.
Other details
No one was injured or lost their life, all occupants were evacuated safely, and Chen had three sets of previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe fire caused €3.5m in damage and closed 19 businesses. (rte.ie)
  • whatNineteen businesses were affected, and 11 provided victim impact statements. (rte.ie)
  • whatA total of 19 businesses were damaged in the fire. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatPauline Belton's hair salon was completely destroyed. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe fire started in a gated laneway beside Oyama Sushi in Grafton Court, Longford. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe arson took place at Grafton Court in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe arson took place on 28 July 2024. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 1.30am on July 28, 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 1.30am on 28 July 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the arson was premeditated. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe judge described the crime as one of spite and revenge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí said there were tensions between Chen and his former business partner before the fire. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe judge said Chen was effecting revenge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí tracked Chen on CCTV from Mullingar to Longford and back. (rte.ie)
  • investigationChen was arrested on 8 August 2024 and denied any involvement in the fire. (rte.ie)
  • investigationChen set fire to bins in a gated laneway beside the Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant, and the fire quickly spread through a grease extraction fan. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA gas canister found at the scene is believed to have acted as an accelerant. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGloves and a cigarette lighter discarded by Chen were recovered and linked to him. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationChen was arrested and interviewed by gardaí. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeChen pleaded guilty to arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1991. (rte.ie)
  • chargeA charge of criminal damage to a Range Rover jeep on 7 July was taken into consideration. (rte.ie)
  • chargeChen pleaded guilty to arson. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeChen pleaded guilty to arson that caused €3.5 million in damages. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtChen appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe sentence was handed down by Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge in the case was Kenneth Connolly. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceChen was jailed for nine years for arson. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceHe was given a headline sentence of 14 years, mitigated to 10 years and six months, with the final 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 8 August 2024, when he first went into custody. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceChen was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 14 years before considering mitigating factors. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to August 8, 2024, when Chen first went into custody. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceChen will be placed on a probation supervision bond for 18 months after his release. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceChen was reported as jailed for nine years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceChen was handed a 10.5 year prison sentence with the final 18 months suspended at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNo one was injured in the fire. (rte.ie)
  • otherAll occupants were evacuated safely. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the arson was a crime of spite and revenge. (rte.ie)
  • otherNo one lost their life and no one suffered physical injuries. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThere were 19 business premises in the complex. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherChen had three sets of previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherChen apologised through his barrister. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherPauline Belton owned and ran Grafters Hair Salon in Longford Town for almost a quarter of a century. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Jul2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford woman whose salon was destroyed 'quite happy' with sentence for arson attack

    Reports the sentencing of Guo Zhong Chen for the Grafton Court arson, including the victim impact of salon owner Pauline Belton. The article gives two different sentences (jailed for nine years, and 10.5 years with the final 18 months suspended) and two different ages for Chen (55 and 57).

    convicted, Guo Zhong Chen, 55, male, namedGuo Zhong Chenvictim, Pauline Belton, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Belton
  2. 7 Jul2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for Longford arson attack that caused €3.5 million worth of damage

    Reports the sentencing of Guo Zhong Chen for the Grafton Court arson, including the sentence terms, backdating to August 8, 2024, a probation supervision bond, and victim impact statements.

    convicted, Guo Zhong Chen, 55, male, Chinese, named, non-irishGuo Zhong Chenvictim, Pauline Belton, irish (judged from name)Pauline Belton
  3. 7 Jul2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man jailed for nine years over Longford arson attack

    Reports the sentence, the guilty plea, the sentence backdating, the fire's cause and spread, and the victim impact and mitigation evidence.

    convicted, Guo Zhong Chen, 57, male, Chinese, named, non-irishGuo Zhong Chen