Wednesday 28 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. 5779Arson (suspected) · Co. Kildare · 29 May 2024

Man dies in suspected deliberate fire at Naas apartment, Co Kildare

A 53-year-old man, named locally as Brian Burrows and reported by the Irish Mirror to be South African, was pronounced dead after a fire in an apartment in the Oldtown Demesne complex in Naas, Co Kildare, in the early hours of Wednesday 29 May 2024. Sources told the Irish Mirror that he rang gardaí, was barricaded in his room when they arrived, and that gardaí believe he set the fire himself, though a garda spokeswoman confirmed only a death and an investigation. Three gardaí received medical treatment for smoke inhalation after rescuing two other occupants, who were uninjured but deeply traumatised. The latest reported development, as of 30 May 2024, is that gardaí are investigating and the scene has been preserved for technical examination.

  1. Reported30 May
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man named locally as Brian Burrows, aged 53, was pronounced dead at the scene.
  • Three gardaí received medical attention for smoke inhalation after rescuing two other occupants from the flat.
Where
The fire was in a residential building, an apartment in the Oldtown Demesne complex in Naas, Co Kildare.
When
The fire happened in the early hours of Wednesday 29 May 2024.
Other details
  • The two rescued occupants were uninjured but deeply traumatised, according to the sources.
  • The Irish Mirror reports that Mr Burrows was South African.
Cause
  • Sources say the man rang gardaí and was barricaded in his room when they arrived.
  • Sources say gardaí believe he set the fire himself in his room, but a garda spokeswoman confirmed only a death and an investigation and did not say the fire was deliberate.
Investigation
Gardaí are investigating the fire, and the scene has been preserved for technical examination.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOne male was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree gardaí received medical attention for smoke inhalation after rescuing two other occupants. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe fire was in a residential building in Naas, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe man was living in an apartment in the Oldtown Demesne complex in Naas. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe fire happened in the early hours of Wednesday 29 May. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí believe the man deliberately set the fire himself, according to sources. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating the fire and the scene has been preserved for technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSources say the man rang gardaí and was barricaded in his room when they arrived. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe two other occupants rescued by gardaí were uninjured but deeply traumatised. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 May2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Three hero gardai injured trying to save man from 'deliberate' apartment fire

    The Irish Mirror, citing sources, reports that the man rang gardaí, was barricaded in his room and set a fire there, and that three gardaí suffered smoke inhalation. The gardaí spokeswoman confirms a death and an investigation but does not say the fire was deliberate.

    victim, Brian Burrows, 53, maleBrian Burrows