Ireland Man remanded in custody over Sailor's Home fire, Limerick City
A fire caused extensive damage to the historic Sailors' Home on O'Curry Street in Limerick City in the early hours of Saturday 1 July 2023, and a nearby vehicle was also set alight; no injuries were reported. Gardaí arrested a man in his 20s, Patrick O'Donovan, aged 26, who was charged with five offences: burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at the Sailors' Home and four counts of criminal damage by fire to vehicles. On Sunday 2 July he appeared before Judge Carol Anne Coolican at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court, made no reply to the charges, and was remanded in custody after the State objected to bail. He was further remanded in custody on 4 July, with the next appearance given as 18 July in one report and as September, pending DPP directions, in another.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged1 Jul
3 reports - In court2 Jul
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí received reports at about 1am of an unoccupied building and a nearby vehicle on fire.
- A fire caused extensive damage to the historic Sailors' Home; one report says the building was destroyed.
- A separate car fire was reported at the junction of Henry Street, Lower Hartstonge Street and Mounth Kenneth Place.
- Where
- The fires were in the O'Curry Street area of Limerick City.
- When
- The fires happened in the early hours of Saturday 1 July 2023; one report gives the date as June 1.
- Other details
- Local fire services extinguished the fires and no injuries were reported.
- Legal aid was granted because he was not working, and the judge granted the defence's application for necessary medical treatment in custody.
- Investigation
- A man in his 20s was arrested and detained at a Limerick Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Charges
- Patrick O'Donovan, aged 26, is accused of burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at the Sailors' Home and four counts of criminal damage by fire to vehicles.
- In court
- On 2 July Patrick O'Donovan appeared before Judge Carol Anne Coolican at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court and made no reply to the five charges.
- The prosecution objected to bail on behalf of the State, and he was remanded in custody to Limerick.
- On 4 July he was further remanded in custody; one report gives the next appearance as 18 July, while another says the case was adjourned to September for DPP directions.
46 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí received reports of an unoccupied building and a nearby vehicle on fire. (garda.ie)
- whatA blaze destroyed the Sailor's Home on O'Curry Street in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatA car fire was reported at the junction of Henry Street, Lower Hartstonge Street and Mounth Kenneth Place. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatGardaí received reports of a fire in an unoccupied building and a nearby vehicle fire in the O'Curry Street area. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatA fire broke out at a historic building in Limerick city in the early hours of Saturday. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe fires were in the O'Curry Street area of Limerick city. (garda.ie)
- whereThe fire damaged the historic Sailors' Home in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe fires involved an unoccupied building and a nearby vehicle in the O'Curry Street area of Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe fires occurred in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe fire was at the old Sailor’s Home, an historic building in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe fires happened in the early hours of Saturday 1 July 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenGardaí received reports of the fires at about 1am on 1 July. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe fires occurred in the early hours of Saturday, as stated in the article. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe fire happened in the early hours of Saturday 1 July 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationA man in his 20s was arrested by Gardaí in connection with the incidents. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained at a Garda station in Limerick under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (garda.ie)
- investigationA man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the incidents and detained at a Limerick garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe arrest followed investigations into a number of reported fires in one area of the city. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe man has since been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeA man was charged in connection with suspected criminal damage by fire incidents in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe man was charged in connection with suspected criminal damage. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe man has been arrested and charged. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeGarda Peter Connolly gave evidence of arresting and charging Mr O'Donovan with five offences. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMr O'Donovan is accused of burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at the Sailors' Home on O'Curry Street, Limerick city, on Saturday, July 1. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMr O'Donovan is also accused of four criminal damage by fire incidents on vehicles in the O'Curry Street and Henry Street areas. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeO’Donovan faces a charge of burglary with intent to cause criminal damage at the Sailor’s Home. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeO’Donovan is also accused of four criminal damage by fire incidents on vehicles. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe man was expected to appear before a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court at 12pm on 2 July 2023. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court on the Sunday afternoon. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe man was expected to appear before a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtPatrick O'Donovan appeared before Judge Carol Anne Coolican at Newcastle West Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMr O'Donovan made no reply to each of the five charges after caution. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe prosecution objected to bail on behalf of the State. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe defence reserved its position on bail. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Coolican remanded Mr O'Donovan in custody to appear in Limerick District Court via videolink later that week. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until September for DPP's directions. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtO’Donovan first appeared before a special district court sitting in Newcastle West on Sunday 2 July 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtInspector Vincent Brick, prosecuting, objected to bail on behalf of the State. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtO’Donovan was remanded to Limerick prison and told to appear again on Tuesday 4 July. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe prosecution said directions in the case are awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtO’Donovan was remanded in custody to appear again before Limerick District Court on 18 July. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherLocal fire services extinguished the fires, and no injuries were reported. (garda.ie)
- otherThe fires were extinguished by local fire services with no injuries reported. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherNo reports of injury were made from either fire. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe defence applied for all necessary medical treatment in custody, and the judge granted it. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherLegal aid was granted because Mr O'Donovan was not working. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Jul2023Man charged in connection with Sailor's Home blaze remanded until later this month
Reports the charges against Patrick O’Donovan, his court appearances and remand. Says the DPP is still to issue directions. Adds four vehicle criminal damage by fire charges on the same date.
accused, Patrick O'Donovan, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick O'Donovan - 2 Jul2023BREAKING: Man charged at special court sitting over blaze at historic Limerick property
Adds the court appearance: Patrick O'Donovan was charged with five offences, made no reply, was remanded in custody, and the case was adjourned to September for DPP's directions. Also reports that his brother Jason O'Donovan was charged separately with criminal damage to a garda jeep at Henry Street, which is not part of this case's people list.
accused, Patrick O'Donovan, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick O'Donovan - 2 Jul2023Man arrested in connection with multiple fires in Limerick City
Adds that the man was arrested and charged over several fires, including a car fire at the junction of Henry Street, Lower Hartstonge Street and Mounth Kenneth Place. Adds that no injuries were reported, and that he was expected at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court. The article gives the Saturday as June 1, but the article is dated 2 July 2023 and the existing case uses 1 July 2023.
accused, 20s, male - 2 Jul2023Gardai arrest man over fire in historic Limerick building
Adds that a man in his 20s was arrested, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and charged, and is expected before a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court on the Sunday afternoon. Gives the time of the reports as about 1am and says no injuries were reported.
accused, 20s, male - 1 Jul2023One Man Arrested and Charged in Connection with Suspected Criminal Damage by Fire Incidents in Limerick City, Saturday 1st July 2023
Official Garda press release confirming that a man in his 20s was arrested, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and charged, and that he was expected to appear at a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court at 12pm on 2 July 2023. It adds no name, and it does not mention the Sailor's Home or the 26-year-old named in earlier reports.
accused, 20s, male