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. 3622Arson, criminal damage by fire · Co. Louth · 31 Oct 2025

Three men guilty of arson at Drogheda IPAS centre await sentencing in 2027

Jonathan Judge, Josh Devlin and Sean Everett pleaded guilty to arson at an IPAS accommodation centre on George's Street, Drogheda, Co Louth, on 31 October 2025, during which five adults and nine children were evacuated. Judge Dara Hayes at Dundalk Circuit Court adjourned sentencing to 23 February 2027, with all three remanded in custody.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA resident saw two masked men on bicycles at around 7.55pm, one carrying a bottle believed to contain petrol (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSeven residents were upstairs (one adult and six children) and four adults and three children were downstairs; 11 residents were not present (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA mother with children including a 20-day-old baby was rescued from the upstairs balcony (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe internal stairs were on fire with no other exit, and the first seven steps suffered fire damage (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatYellow and black gloves similar to those worn by the defendant were retrieved from a bin nearby (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe fire was started by a human malicious act and petrol was poured onto the stairs (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationJonathan Judge was arrested on 6 November 2025 and interviewed four times (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJosh Devlin and Sean Everett entered guilty pleas to arson at the IPAS centre (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Dara Hayes adjourned the case until 23 February 2027 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtAll three were remanded into custody (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJonathan Judge's home in Moneymore was subjected to six arson attacks between 2018 and 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJonathan Judge was known to garda since the age of 12 and has a history of drug and alcohol dependency with no previous employment (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAsylum seekers fleeing war in Nigeria were living in the accommodation (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Oct2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Men who carried out Drogheda IPAS centre arson attack to learn fate next year

    Guilty pleas entered; sentencing adjourned to 23 February 2027 due to solicitor's strike and pending psychiatric report for Judge. CCTV evidence, witness testimony and victim impact statements detailed at Dundalk Circuit Court.

    accused, Jonathan Judge, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Judgeaccused, Josh Devlin, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Josh Devlinaccused, Sean Everett, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Everett