Ireland Case No. 2933Manslaughter (arson) · Co. Donegal · 12 Apr 2022
Man sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter by arson in Donegal
Geunter Lohse, a 63-year-old German man, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing by arson of his 88-year-old mother Ruth Lohse, who died in a house fire at the home they shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal on 12 April 2022. Three fires were lit in the house using matches, and a post-mortem found she died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide toxicity. He was originally charged with murder, but the State accepted a plea to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court in March 2024. On 15 November 2024, Ms Justice Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 years in prison, with a headline sentence of 18 years reduced to 13 years with the final 12 months suspended. Lohse intends to return to Germany after serving his sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted20 Mar
7 reports - Sentenced15 Nov
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Geunter Lohse pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing by arson of his mother Ruth Lohse.
- Where
- The fatal fire occurred at the house the two shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal.
- When
- The killing took place on 12 April 2022.
- Cause
- Ruth Lohse died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide toxicity, with heart disease a contributory factor.
- Weapon
- Three fires were lit in the house using matches, with no accelerant used.
- Investigation
- Lohse admitted to starting the fire when gardaí arrived, and firefighters found the victim seated in an armchair in the sitting room.
- Charges
- Lohse was originally charged with murder, but the State accepted a plea to manslaughter by arson.
- In court
- Lohse pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in March 2024 and was sentenced on 15 November 2024 by Ms Justice Melanie Greally.
- Sentence
- Lohse was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with a headline sentence of 18 years reduced to 13 years with the final 12 months suspended, and the judge recommended he serve his sentence at Castlerea Prison.
- Other details
- Lohse has no previous convictions, and the defence said the family long suspected he suffers from schizophrenia but he had never been seen by an expert.
- Lohse intends to return to Germany after his sentence and will undertake not to return to Ireland.
87 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGeunter Lohse pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing by arson of his mother. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatLohse pleaded guilty earlier this year to unlawfully killing his mother Ruth Lohse by arson. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatGeunter Lohse killed his 88-year-old mother by setting fire to her home. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing happened at Coolvoy, Doochary. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
- whereLohse lives at An Chúlbhá, An Dúchoraidh in Co Donegal. (rte.ie)
- whereThe fire was at the house Lohse and his mother shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe fatal fire was at the house Lohse and his mother shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at the house the two shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe fire occurred at a house in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing happened on 12 April 2022. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on 12 April 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on April 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fire happened on April 12, 2022. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe fire happened on 12 April 2022. (donegallive.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on April 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place on 12 April 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- causeRuth Lohse died in a house fire. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe victim died in a house fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeLohse unlawfully killed his mother by a criminal and dangerous act, namely arson. (irishtimes.com)
- causeLohse set fire to the house he lived in with his mother and told witnesses he had killed her. (rte.ie)
- causeLohse set three fires in the bungalow on the afternoon of 12 April 2022. (rte.ie)
- causeRuth Lohse died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide toxicity. (rte.ie)
- causeThree fires had been lit in the house using matches but no accelerant. (donegallive.ie)
- causeA post mortem showed that Ruth Lohse died from inhaling fumes. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThree fires were lit in the house using matches, with no accelerant used. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- causeA postmortem showed the victim died from inhaling fumes. (irishtimes.com)
- causeLohse pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his mother by arson. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA post-mortem found that Ruth Lohse died from inhaling fumes. (thejournal.ie)
- causeHe claimed he was only trying to destroy the property and not harm his mother (irishtimes.com)
- causeHe was upset that the family had planned to send him back to Germany but keep his mother in Donegal (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThree fires were lit in the house with matches and no accelerant was used. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponHe started the fire using long matches (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLohse admitted to starting the fire when gardai arrived. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí found the victim seated in an armchair in the sittingroom when firefighters arrived. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLohse admitted to gardaí that he started the fire. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeA murder charge against Lohse is to be dropped. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeThe accused was charged with murder of his mother. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe accused said he was guilty of unlawfully killing his mother by a criminal and dangerous act, namely arson. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe murder charge is to be withdrawn. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA charge of arson could be taken into account. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLohse pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his 88-year-old mother by way of arson. (rte.ie)
- chargeLohse had been charged with murder but the director accepted a plea to manslaughter. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeLohse was originally charged with murder, but the State accepted a plea to manslaughter. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to manslaughter after originally being charged with murder (irishtimes.com)
- courtLohse appeared at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. (donegallive.ie)
- courtLohse pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his mother by a criminal and dangerous act, namely arson. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe prosecution said a guilty plea to unlawful killing would be accepted, with the arson charge taken into account. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution said a plea of guilty to unlawful killing would be accepted. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLohse appeared at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, where he had been due to go on trial the following month. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSentencing is scheduled for a hearing on May 16th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge ordered a probation report and the matter will return to court on 29 July. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Melanie Greally asked for a probation report and adjourned sentencing until July 29. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge wants to consider psychiatric and psychological reports prepared before the hearing. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCounsel said Lohse had shown genuine remorse. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCounsel said Lohse would undertake not to return to Ireland. (donegallive.ie)
- courtSentencing was adjourned to 11 November and Lohse was remanded in custody until then. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned sentencing to November 11th and remanded Lohse in custody until then. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentence was passed at the Central Criminal Court by Ms Justice Melanie Greally. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe murder charge will be withdrawn at a sentencing hearing on 16 May. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceLohse will be sentenced in July. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe prosecution said the Director of Public Prosecutions places the offence in the higher category, with a headline sentence of 15 to 20 years. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceCounsel said the offence did not fall into the most serious category. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceLohse was jailed for 12 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 18 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said she would impose 13 years with the final 12 months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceGuenter Lohse was sentenced to 13 years with the final 12 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence set by the judge was 18 years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge recommended he serve his sentence at Castlerea Prison (irishtimes.com)
- otherA psychiatric report will be opened to the court. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Lohse family will make a statement at the sentencing hearing. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherHeart disease was a contributory factor in Ruth Lohse's death. (rte.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Lohse had no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence said the family long suspected Lohse suffers from schizophrenia, but he had never seen an expert. (donegallive.ie)
- otherLohse has no previous convictions, according to gardai. (donegallive.ie)
- otherLohse had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
- otherA probation report placed Lohse at moderate risk of reoffending. (donegallive.ie)
- otherLohse intends to return to Germany at the end of his sentence. (donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe probation report placed Lohse at a moderate risk of reoffending. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLohse has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim was 88 years old and had dedicated her life to caring for the defendant (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant was considered a vulnerable person due to asphyxiation at birth from umbilical cord complications (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere was no sign of a credible effort to assist or save the victim (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim died in horrific circumstances (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Nov2024‘Solitary and sad’ German man (63) jailed for 12 years over house fire that killed mother
Sentencing details: judge's reasoning, headline sentence of 18 years reduced to 13 years (12 months suspended) for mitigating factors, aggravating factors, and recommendation to serve at Castlerea Prison.
victim, Ruth Lohse, 88, female, German, non-irishRuth Lohseconvicted, Guenter Lohse, 63, male, German, named, non-irishGuenter Lohse - 15 Nov2024Man sentenced to 12 years for killing his mother in a house fire
Reports the sentencing: 12 years in prison, a headline sentence of 18 years, and 13 years with the final 12 months suspended. Adds the judge's reasoning, the victim impact evidence, the post-mortem findings and the defendant's background.
convicted, Geunter Lohse, 63, male, namedGeunter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, 88, femaleRuth Lohse - 4 Nov2024Man who killed his mother by setting fire to home will return to Germany after sentence, court told
Reports the guilty plea to manslaughter (originally charged with murder), mitigation including probation and psychiatric reports, and the adjournment to 11 November for sentencing.
convicted, Geunter Lohse, 63, male, namedGeunter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, 88, femaleRuth Lohse - 4 Nov2024'Solitary and sad' man who killed mother by arson in Doochary plans return to Germany
Reports the Central Criminal Court hearing where reports were presented before sentencing. Adds that Lohse intends to return to Germany after his sentence and would undertake not to return to Ireland, that he had no previous convictions, that a probation report placed him at moderate risk of reoffending, and that sentencing was adjourned to 11 November with him remanded in custody.
victim, Ruth Lohse, 88, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohseconvicted, Geunter Lohse, 63, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Geunter Lohse - 16 May2024'Solitary and sad' man killed his mother by arson in Doochary, court hears
Reports the court hearing before sentencing: sentencing adjourned to 29 July, probation and psychiatric reports ordered, prosecution headline sentence of 15 to 20 years disputed by the defence, and details of the defence case and the family's account.
convicted, Geunter Lohse, 63, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Geunter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, 88, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohse - 16 May2024Man guilty of manslaughter after his mother dies in fire
Reports the Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 May 2024 at which Lohse pleaded guilty. Adds that he set three fires, the cause of death, the victim impact statements, the defence account, and that a probation report was ordered with sentencing set for July.
convicted, Guenter Lohse, 63, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Guenter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, 88, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohse - 20 Mar2024Man pleads guilty to unlawful killing of mother by arson
Lohse pleaded guilty to unlawful killing by arson at the Central Criminal Court; the murder charge is to be withdrawn at sentencing on May 16th.
convicted, Geunter Lohse, 62, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Geunter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohse - 20 Mar2024Man pleads guilty to unlawful killing by arson of his mother in Donegal
Guilty plea to unlawful killing by arson entered at the Central Criminal Court; the murder charge is to be withdrawn at sentencing on May 16, and a psychiatric report will be opened to the court.
victim, Ruth Lohse, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohseconvicted, Geunter Lohse, 62, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Geunter Lohse - 20 Mar2024Man pleads guilty to unlawful killing of mother by arson in Doochary home
Reports the guilty plea entered at the Central Criminal Court on 20 March 2024, the planned withdrawal of the murder charge, the psychiatric report and the family statement at a sentencing hearing on 16 May.
victim, Ruth Lohse, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ruth Lohseconvicted, Geunter Lohse, 62, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Geunter Lohse