Ireland Case No. 19260Arson · Co. Donegal · 21 Jan 2023
Man sentenced to three years for arson at Castlefin Garda Station
In the early hours of 21 January 2023, Gary McGinley, a 35-year-old man from Castlefin, County Donegal, poured petrol on a marked Garda patrol car parked outside Castlefin Garda Station and set it alight, causing €17,500 in damage. He was arrested that evening following an armed Garda operation and charged with arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1991. McGinley pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court in March 2023 and was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing. On 3 November 2023, Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court sentenced him to three years in prison with the final 12 months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Jan
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Jan
5 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A marked Garda patrol car, described as a Hyundai i30 estate in some reports and a Hyundai i20 in others, was doused in petrol and set alight, causing €10,000 to €17,500 in damage.
- Where
- The car was parked approximately eight feet from the front door of Castlefin Garda Station, County Donegal.
- When
- The fire was discovered shortly before 4:15am on Saturday 21 January 2023.
- Cause
- The car was doused in petrol before being set alight.
- Investigation
- McGinley was captured on CCTV pouring petrol on the car, and clothing found at his home in Emmett Park, Castlefin matched the clothing seen on the footage.
- He was arrested just after 5:30pm on 21 January 2023 following an armed Garda operation at his home.
- Charges
- McGinley was charged with arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1991 at 5:17am on Sunday 22 January 2023.
- In court
- Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused bail at Letterkenny District Court on 23 January 2023 and ordered psychiatric and psychological assessments in custody.
- McGinley pleaded guilty to the single charge of arson at Donegal Circuit Court sitting in Letterkenny Courthouse on 14 March 2023.
- Sentence
- Judge John Aylmer sentenced McGinley to three years in prison with the final 12 months suspended at Letterkenny Circuit Court on 3 November 2023.
- Other details
- An off-duty Garda used a fire extinguisher to prevent the blaze from spreading to the station, and no injuries were reported.
- McGinley was on bail in relation to District Court matters at the time of the incident.
84 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA marked Garda patrol vehicle parked outside Castlefin Garda Station was discovered on fire. (donegallive.ie)
- whatA white Hyundai i30 estate was burnt at the front of the Garda station causing €10,000 in damage (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe damaged vehicle was a Hyundai i30 Estate with an approximate value of €10,000. (rte.ie)
- whatA patrol car outside Castlefin Garda Station was set alight. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcGinley was captured on CCTV pouring petrol on the Hyundai i30 estate patrol car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe fire caused €10,000 of damage to the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn off-duty Garda used a fire extinguisher to stop the blaze from spreading to the station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcGinley admitted causing more than €10,000 of damage to a Hyundai i20 official marked patrol car in Castlefin, Co Donegal (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn off-duty Garda used a fire extinguisher to stop the blaze from spreading (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe car was a Hyundai i20 official marked patrol car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man set fire to a patrol car at Castlefin garda station. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe car was eight feet and eight inches from the front door of the Garda station (donegallive.ie)
- whereGary McGinley is from Emmett Park, Castlefin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe car was parked approximately eight feet from the front of the Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMcGinley is aged 35 and of Emmett Park, Castlefin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe damaged patrol car was parked approximately eight feet from the front of the Garda station (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe patrol car was parked just eight feet from the front of the Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe patrol car was parked just eight feet from Castlefin garda station. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe fire was discovered shortly before 4:15am on Saturday 21 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested just after 5:30pm on Saturday 21 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- whenDetective Garda Robin Doyle of Lifford Garda Station charged McGinley at 5.17am on Sunday (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday 21 January 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Saturday morning in Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe car was set alight just after 4am on Saturday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe petrol was poured on the vehicle just after 4am on 21 January (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 21 January. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on January 21, 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe car was doused in petrol before being set alight. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí including officers from the Armed Support Unit swooped on a house to make the arrest. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained at Letterkenny Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV showing McGinley pouring petrol on the car (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA search of McGinley's home found clothing identified as the same clothing on the CCTV footage (donegallive.ie)
- investigationDuring his detention, McGinley made full and frank admissions (donegallive.ie)
- investigationHe was arrested following a high profile Garda operation at Emmett Park, Castlefin on Saturday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationClothing found at McGinley's home matched that seen on CCTV. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMcGinley was arrested following an armed Garda operation on Saturday evening (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe entire incident was captured on CCTV. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMcGinley was identified by gardaí who viewed CCTV. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeMcGinley is charged with committing arson at Castlefin Garda Station on 21 January 2023 contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1991 (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with criminal damage and arson to a garda patrol vehicle parked outside Castlefin Garda Station in County Donegal. (rte.ie)
- chargeGary McGinley was charged with arson of the official marked car. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to the single charge of arson. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to be charged before a sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 23 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham refused bail due to the nature and seriousness of the charge and the sentence likely to be imposed (donegallive.ie)
- courtMcGinley was remanded in custody to appear again before Letterkenny District Court on Thursday (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Cunningham directed that McGinley receive psychiatric and psychological assessments and treatments as required (donegallive.ie)
- courtGary McGinley was remanded in custody to appear again in court the following week. (rte.ie)
- courtGardaí opposed a bail application made on behalf of McGinley. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham refused bail. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered that McGinley be given appropriate psychiatric, psychological and medical care while in custody. (rte.ie)
- courtMcGinley is to appear in court again by video link the following Thursday. (rte.ie)
- courtDetective Garda Robin Doyle of Lifford Garda Station charged McGinley on Sunday at 5.17am. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHis solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher sought remand for mental health assessment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe penalty for the offence is up to life imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham refused bail on grounds including seriousness of the charge, strength of evidence, and sentence likely to be imposed. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered McGinley receive all medical help while on remand and be seen by psychological and psychiatric services in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned by videolink to Thursday, January 26 at Letterkenny District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham refused bail at Letterkenny District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge ordered McGinley to receive urgent psychological and psychiatric assessment in prison (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 1 February 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- courtGary McGinley pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Garda patrol car outside a Garda station causing more than €10,000 of damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGinley appeared at Donegal Circuit Court sitting in Letterkenny Courthouse. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBarrister Peter Nolan sought a probation and welfare report and indicated he may seek a second counsel. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge John Aylmer adjourned the matter to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court and directed a probation and welfare report and an updated psychiatric report. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGinley was remanded on continuing bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGinley pleaded guilty to a charge of arson. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceArson carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to three years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe fire was extinguished by local fire services. (donegallive.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported in the incident. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe man remains in Garda custody. (donegallive.ie)
- otherMcGinley is on bail on another matter due before the court in April (donegallive.ie)
- otherAn off-duty Garda accessed an extinguisher and brought the fire under control (donegallive.ie)
- otherMcGinley's solicitor said his client has a number of health issues (donegallive.ie)
- otherMcGinley said he was sorry when he was charged. (rte.ie)
- otherWhen charged, McGinley replied 'I'm sorry.' (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGinley made full and frank admissions while being interviewed. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe offence was committed while McGinley was on bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGinley confirmed he had been seen by a prison doctor but not a psychiatrist or psychologist (irishtimes.com)
- otherAn off-duty Garda noticed the car on fire and used a fire extinguisher to stop the blaze from spreading. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man doused the car in petrol before setting it alight. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe damage caused was €17,500. (donegallive.ie)
- otherAn off-duty garda put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher. (donegallive.ie)
- otherMcGinley was on bail at the time of the incident in relation to District Court matters. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Nov2023Donegal man jailed for burning Garda car
Sentencing report from Letterkenny Circuit Court. Gives the sentence, the damage value, the CCTV identification and the judge's remarks on the offence.
convicted, Gary McGinley, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 14 Mar2023Man admits setting fire to Garda patrol car outside Garda station in Donegal
Reports the guilty plea hearing at Donegal Circuit Court, details of the car and damage, the role of an off-duty Garda, and the adjournment to the May sitting for sentencing with a probation and welfare report and updated psychiatric report directed.
accused, Gary McGinley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 26 Jan2023Man accused of Garda patrol car arson before court in Donegal
Court appearance where bail was refused, urgent psychiatric and psychological assessment in prison was ordered, and the case was adjourned to 1 February 2023. Solicitor Patsy Gallagher criticised the DPP for not acting on formal directions.
suspect, Gary McGinley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 24 Jan2023Off-duty garda prevents garda station blaze after patrol car set on fire
Details of the initial court appearance where McGinley was charged and bail was refused, including CCTV evidence of him pouring petrol on the car, an off-duty garda preventing the fire spreading, his solicitor's request for mental health assessment, and the judge's order for psychological and psychiatric services in prison.
suspect, Gary McGinley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 23 Jan2023Man remanded in custody over damage to garda vehicle
Reports the court appearance where McGinley was remanded in custody; identifies the vehicle as a Hyundai i30 Estate worth approximately €10,000, notes Gardaí opposed bail, and records the judge's order for psychiatric, psychological and medical care in custody. He is to appear by video link the following Thursday.
accused, Gary McGinley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 23 Jan2023Bail refused for Castlefin man who burned Garda patrol car
Reports the bail hearing at Letterkenny District Court on 23 January 2023 where McGinley was remanded in custody. Provides details of the charging, CCTV evidence, search of his home, his admissions in detention, and the judge's reasoning for refusing bail.
accused, Gary McGinley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McGinley - 23 Jan2023Man due in court after patrol car set on fire
Reports the arrest of a man in his 30s following the arson of a Garda patrol car at Castlefin Garda Station, and his expected appearance before Letterkenny District Court to be charged.
suspect, 30s, male