Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4980Arson · Co. Cork · 25 Dec 2023

Man set Cork city house on fire on Christmas Day 2023, court hears

On Christmas Day 2023, a man set fire to a multistorey period house at 4 Dyke Parade in Cork city, trapping four people inside, a court heard. CCTV showed him lighting a small fire outside at about 6pm, then setting a fire inside after opening the front door, and firefighters rescued a woman trapped on the third floor from the roof. The man, Shane Casey (32), allegedly slashed a man trying to escape, and he was on High Court bail for an aggravated burglary offence at the time. At a hearing at the Central Criminal Court in Cork on 1 December 2025, he was remanded while the judge considers sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man set fire to a multistorey period house in Cork city on Christmas Day 2023, a court heard.
  • CCTV showed the man lighting a small fire outside the property, which quickly burned out.
  • The man allegedly opened the front door and set a fire inside the house, and tried to barricade the door from outside.
  • The man allegedly swiped twice at a man trying to escape, slashing his forehead, and allegedly told him his name and said he would die that night.
Where
The house was at 4 Dyke Parade in Cork city.
When
The man went to the property at about 6pm on Christmas Day 2023.
Weapon
CCTV showed the man holding a blade outside the property.
Other details
  • Four people were trapped inside, and a woman on the third floor was rescued by firefighters from the roof.
  • The rescued woman was treated for smoke inhalation at Mercy University Hospital, and the man who was attacked was hospitalised for smoke inhalation and a 2cm laceration.
  • The fire brigade took more than six hours to bring the blaze under control, and the house needed about €110,000 of work.
  • Two neighbouring properties were also damaged, one with at least €120,000 of damage.
  • Defence counsel said the man had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and had been discharged from a psychiatric unit 10 days before the incident.
Investigation
Det Sgt Brian Barron told the Central Criminal Court in Cork about the CCTV evidence.
In court
The man, Shane Casey (32), formerly of Shanowen, Rathcormac, Co Cork, was on High Court bail for an aggravated burglary offence at the time, and had 67 previous convictions.
Sentence
The man was remanded while the judge considers sentence, at a hearing reported on 1 December 2025.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man set fire to a multistorey period house in Cork city on Christmas Day in 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV captured Casey lighting a small fire outside the property, which quickly burned out. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCasey then opened the front door and set a fire inside the house. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCasey tried to barricade the front door from the outside. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCasey swiped twice at a man trying to escape, slashing his forehead. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour people were trapped inside the house. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA woman who could not get out was trapped on the third floor. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe house was at 4 Dyke Parade in Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenCasey went to the property at about 6pm on the date of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponCCTV showed Casey holding a blade outside the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFirefighters rescued the trapped woman by removing her from the roof. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe rescued woman was treated for smoke inhalation at Mercy University Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man Casey attacked was hospitalised for smoke inhalation and a 2cm laceration. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCasey allegedly told the man his name and said he would die that night. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe fire brigade took more than six hours to bring the blaze under control. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe house needed about €110,000 of work to make it liveable again. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo neighbouring properties were also damaged, one with at least €120,000 of damage. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt the time of the offence Casey was on High Court bail for an aggravated burglary offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCasey had 67 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence counsel said Casey had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Dec2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man set Cork house ablaze on Christmas Day, trapping four people inside, court hears

    Court hearing account of the arson at 4 Dyke Parade, Cork city, including the blade attack, the rescue of a trapped woman, injuries, damage costs and Casey's remand while the judge considers sentence. No earlier coverage of this incident appears in the existing cases.

    accused, Shane Casey, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Caseyvictim, femalevictim, male