Ireland Man jailed for setting fire to car near estranged wife and children's home, Limerick
A man set fire to a car parked outside a house in the Limerick area, close to where his estranged wife and two children were sleeping, after damaging it with an axe and igniting it with petrol and a rag. A neighbour raised the alarm, and gardaí found him nearby in his car asleep next to an axe; he was arrested in 2024 and held on remand. He pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to arson, possession of a hatchet and breaching a protection order. On 1 March 2025 he was sentenced to four and a half years, reduced from a headline sentence of six years and backdated to 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man set fire to a car close to where his estranged wife and two children were sleeping.
- The car was destroyed and the damage was valued at €3,000.
- Where
- The car was parked outside a house in the Limerick area.
- When
- The sentence was reported on 1 March 2025; the incident date is not stated.
- Weapon
- The man used an axe to damage the car, then set it alight using a can of petrol and a rag.
- Cause
- The man was described as jealous of his estranged wife, who was in another relationship.
- Other details
- The car belonged to a man the woman was in a relationship with at the time.
- Investigation
- A neighbour raised the alarm, and gardaí found the man nearby in his car asleep next to an axe.
- Charges
- The man pleaded guilty to arson, possession of a hatchet and breaching a protection order.
- In court
- At Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, the judge described the actions as utterly reckless and arson as a very serious criminal offence.
- The judge took into account the man's guilty plea, his apology to the victims and his genuine remorse.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence, reduced from a headline sentence of six years.
- The sentence was backdated to 2024, when the man was arrested and had been on remand.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man set fire to a car close to where his estranged wife and two children were sleeping. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe man used an axe to damage the car, then set it alight using a can of petrol and a rag. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe car was destroyed and the damage was valued at €3,000. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe car was parked outside a house in the Limerick area. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeThe man was described as jealous of his estranged wife, who was in another relationship. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationA neighbour raised the alarm and gardaí found the man nearby in his car asleep next to an axe. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to arson, possession of a hatchet and breaching a protection order. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe judge described the defendant's actions as utterly reckless. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe judge said arson is a very serious criminal offence. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe judge took into account the man's guilty plea, his apology to the victims and his genuine remorse. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence, reduced from a headline sentence of six years. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 2024, when the man was arrested and had been on remand. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe car belonged to a man the woman was in a relationship with at the time. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Mar2025Man jailed after setting fire to car near where estranged wife and children slept
Reports the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court sentencing: four and a half years, reduced from a headline sentence of six years, backdated to 2024, with the man's motive described as jealousy of his estranged wife.
convicted, malevictim, female