Ireland Man jailed for arson attack on Louth family home
On 23 January 2023, a 42-year-old man, Stephen McVeigh, set fire to pallets at the front door of a family home at Aghanmeen Park, Muirhevnamor, County Louth, and the resident woman was told to get out around 2am. Mobile phone footage seized during the investigation showed McVeigh being directed by a woman, and nearby CCTV captured a woman buying a jerry can and petrol. McVeigh, who had 70 previous convictions, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court in March 2024 to four years and three months, with the final 18 months suspended, giving a custodial term of two years and nine months. He is also under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 42-year-old man set fire to pallets at the front door of a family home in County Louth.
- Where
- The house is at Aghanmeen Park, Muirhevnamor, County Louth.
- When
- The fire was started on 23 January 2023, and the victim was told to get out of the house around 2am.
- Investigation
- Mobile phone footage seized during the investigation showed Stephen McVeigh being directed by a woman, and nearby CCTV captured a woman buying a jerry can and petrol.
- In court
- Stephen McVeigh, formerly of Commons Road, Dromiskin, had 70 previous convictions and a drug dependency.
- The judge said the arson attack appears to have been directed from elsewhere.
- Sentence
- Stephen McVeigh was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court to four years and three months, with the final 18 months suspended, giving a custodial term of two years and nine months.
- Stephen McVeigh is under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after release.
- Other details
- The victim's two adult sons threw water over the flames and extinguished the fire.
- The cost of repair to Louth County Council was €5,000.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 42-year-old man set fire to pallets at the front door of a family's home in County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe house is at Aghanmeen Park, Muirhevnamor. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe fire was started on 23 January 2023. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe victim was told to get out of the house around 2am. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationMobile phone footage seized as part of the arson investigation showed Stephen McVeigh being directed by a woman. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationCCTV from a nearby Applegreen showed a woman buying a jerry can and petrol. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtStephen McVeigh had 70 previous convictions and a drug dependency. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe judge said the arson attack appears to have been directed from elsewhere. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceStephen McVeigh was jailed for two years and nine months at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed four years and three months, with the final 18 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceStephen McVeigh is under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe victim's two adult sons threw water over the flames and the fire was extinguished. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe cost of repair to Louth County Council was €5,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Mar2024Dundalk court: Arson attack at Louth home
Sentencing report for an arson at a family home in Aghanmeen Park, Muirhevnamor, Dundalk. The case is not in the existing list. The 2023 year is inferred from the article's 'January 23rd last year' and its 2024 publication date.
convicted, Stephen McVeigh, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen McVeighaccused, femalevictim, female