Ireland Man sentenced for racist arson at Dundalk home
Declan Clarke, a 40-year-old man (reports also give his age as 41), admitted setting fire to the home of a Romanian family at 83 Rockfield Manor, Hoey's Lane, Dundalk, over five successive nights in September 2021, causing €420,000 in damage to the house and an adjoining property. CCTV showed him walking around the property the night after the first fire, and a garda used a fire extinguisher to put out the initial blaze. He pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court in January 2023, and Judge Dara Hayes identified a racist element to the attacks, noting the defendant wanted the family to leave the street. In June 2023, the judge sentenced Clarke to six years and nine months, backdated to October 2021, with the final 18 months suspended on a good behaviour bond, effectively jailing him for five years and three months.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Jan
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced29 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Declan Clarke, a 40-year-old man (reports also give his age as 41), admitted setting fire to the home of a Romanian family over five successive nights.
- The fires caused €420,000 worth of damage to the house and an adjoining property.
- Where
- The attacks targeted 83 Rockfield Manor, Hoey's Lane, Dundalk, County Louth.
- When
- The arson attacks took place on 20 September 2021.
- Cause
- The defendant wanted the Romanian family to leave the street, and the court found a racist element to the attacks.
- Investigation
- CCTV showed the defendant walking around the side of the property the night after the first fire.
- In court
- Clarke pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court in January 2023, and the case was adjourned to 9 June 2023 for sentencing.
- Sentence
- Judge Dara Hayes sentenced Clarke to six years and nine months, backdated to 22 October 2021, with the final 18 months suspended on a good behaviour bond.
- Other details
- The judge identified the racist overtone, the presence of children in the home, and the defendant returning on five successive nights as aggravating factors.
- Clarke had 29 previous convictions.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDeclan Clarke is a 40-year-old man (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatHe admitted damaging 83 Rockfield Manor by fire on 20 September 2021 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA 41-year-old man set fire to the home of a Romanian family over five nights. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe arson attacks caused €420,000 worth of damage to the house and an adjoining property. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe attacks targeted a house in Rockfield Manor, Hoey's Lane, Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe arson attacks took place on September 20th 2021. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe defendant wanted the Romanian family to leave the street where he lived. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe court heard there was a racist element to the arson attacks. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationCCTV showed the defendant walking around the side of the property the night after the first fire. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtHe pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Defence barrister told the court there are a number of counts on the indictment (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtA proposal has been put to the State regarding the counts (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes adjourned the case to 9 June 2023 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe court directed the preparation of a probation report at the Defence's request (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe defendant was directed to undergo urinalysis (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtAn early guilty plea was entered after an assessment found the defendant fit to give instructions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Dara Hayes imposed a six year and nine month sentence backdated to October 22nd 2021. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on a good behaviour bond. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was jailed for five years and three months. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA family member sustained blisters from stepping on debris. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA garda used a fire extinguisher when the first home fire was started in an old buggy at the front door. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defendant shouted abusive words at firefighters and referred to the victim's nationality. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe judge said the primary motivating factor was the defendant's dislike of the family. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe judge identified the racist overtone and the presence of children in the home as aggravating factors. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe judge identified the defendant returning to the house on five successive nights as an aggravating factor. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defendant had 29 previous convictions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Jun2023Jailed for setting fire to a home in Dundalk five nights in a row
Reports the sentence of six years and nine months, with the final 18 months suspended, the racist element found by the judge, the aggravating and mitigating factors, and details of the fires and CCTV evidence.
convicted, Declan Clarke, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Clarkevictim, Romanian, non-irish - 19 Jan2023Pleaded guilty to arson attack on house in Dundalk
Guilty plea at Dundalk Circuit Court; case adjourned to 9 June 2023 for sentencing with probation report and urinalysis directed at the Defence's request.
accused, Declan Clarke, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Clarke