Sunday 1 November 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. 5513Harassment; arson; criminal damage · Co. Laois

Mountrath man sentenced to 10 years for harassment and arson

William Phelan, 57, a farmer from Paddock, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to two charges of persistently pestering his adult niece through phone calls, voice messages and Facebook posts between February 15 and July 5, 2023, as well as to arson at a storage facility on Main Street, Mountrath, in May 2022 and criminal damage to his nephew Jason Phelan's car. The harassment included threatening to burn the niece's home down. A Book of Evidence was served at Portlaoise District Court in November 2023 and Judge Andrew Cody sent the case forward to Portlaoise Circuit Court. In July 2024, Phelan was sentenced to six years for the arson and six years for the harassment charges to run consecutively, with the final two years suspended for five years, giving an effective sentence of 10 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Nov
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
William Phelan, 57, a farmer from Paddock, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to two charges of persistently pestering his adult niece through phone calls, voice messages and Facebook posts under Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, including threatening to burn her home down.
Where
The harassment is alleged to have taken place at Cloneen, Mountrath, Co Laois.
When
The harassment offences took place between February 15 and July 5, 2023, and between July 22 and 25, 2023.
Charges
  • Phelan also pleaded guilty to arson at a storage facility at the rear of his takeaway on Main Street, Mountrath, on May 23, 2022.
  • Phelan pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the windows of a car belonging to his nephew, Jason Phelan.
Investigation
Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes served a Book of Evidence on the accused at Portlaoise District Court.
In court
Judge Andrew Cody sent the accused forward to the current sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • Phelan was sentenced to six years for arson and six years for the harassment charges to run consecutively, with the final two years suspended for five years.
  • As a condition, Phelan is to be under Probation Service supervision for 18 months after release and have no contact with his niece or nephew.
Other details
  • The arson caused over €224,000 in damage and forced the takeaway owners to close the outdoor catering side of their business.
  • The harassment offences were committed while Phelan was on bail for the arson and criminal damage charges.
  • Phelan had 64 previous convictions and is a chronic alcoholic.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWilliam Phelan, 57, a farmer from Paddock, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to two charges of persistently pestering his adult niece. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe harassment included threatening to burn the niece's home down. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe harassment is alleged to have taken place at Cloneen, Mountrath. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe alleged harassment took place at Cloneen, Mountrath, Co Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe harassment is alleged on dates between July 22 and 25, and between February 15 and July 5, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged harassment occurred on dates between July 22 and 25 of the year of the article. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged harassment also occurred at the same location on dates between February 15 and July 5, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe harassment offences took place between February 15, 2023 and July 5, 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda Sergeant Jason Hughes served a Book of Evidence on the accused at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda Sergeant Jason Hughes served a Book of Evidence on the defendant at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is further charged with threatening to damage property at Cloneen, Mountrath, between February 15 and July 5. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with threatening to damage property at the same location. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe harassment charges were brought under Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargePhelan also pleaded guilty to arson on a storage facility at the rear of his takeaway on Main Street, Mountrath, on May 23, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargePhelan also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the windows of a car belonging to his nephew, Jason Phelan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody sent the accused forward to the current sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody sent the man forward to the current sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThere was an earlier hearing in the case at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentencePhelan was sentenced to six years for arson and six years for the harassment charges, to run consecutively. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final two years of the sentence for five years on conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAs a condition, Phelan is to be under Probation Service supervision for 18 months after release and have no contact with his niece or nephew. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe arson caused over €224,000 damage and forced the takeaway owners to close the outdoor catering side of their business. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe harassment offences were committed while Phelan was on bail for the arson and criminal damage charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPhelan had 64 previous convictions and is a chronic alcoholic. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man who subjected niece to lengthy campaign of harassment jailed for 10 years

    Sentencing report giving the total sentence, the split between arson and harassment, the suspended portion and probation conditions, the criminal damage to a nephew's car, the 64 previous convictions, and the victim's impact statement. No existing case in the list matches.

    convicted, William Phelan, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Phelanvictim, femalevictim, Jason Phelan, irish (judged from name)Jason Phelanvictim
  2. 13 Nov2023
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois man to face trial for harassment

    Reports that Phelan was sent forward for trial at Portlaoise Circuit Court on harassment and threatening-to-damage-property charges at Cloneen, Mountrath, with alleged dates given. The article does not mention the arson or the niece.

    accused, William Phelan, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Phelan
  3. 10 Nov2023
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois man to face trial for alleged harassment

    Reports that a Book of Evidence was served and that Judge Andrew Cody sent the accused forward to the current sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court. The charges match the existing case.

    accused, William Phelan, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Phelan