Friday 30 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. 17317Conspiracy to commit criminal damage · Co. Offaly

Two men sentenced over plot to set fire to Garda car in Tullamore

Padraig Power, a 28-year-old man of Church View, Tullamore, and John Brickland, a man of Castletroy, Limerick, conspired to set fire to the patrol car of Detective Sergeant Caroline Lyng, a woman, in Tullamore. Text messages sent in March 2021, in which Power offered Brickland €1,000 for the arson, were found on Brickland's seized phone after he was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage relating to the family home. Power was arrested and taken to Tullamore Garda Station, and both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage. At Tullamore Circuit Court on 7 May 2024, Brickland received a three-year sentence suspended for five years and must donate €5,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, while Power received a three-year, six-month sentence suspended for 18 months, both on €500 bonds, as reported on 9 May 2024.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two men conspired to set fire to a detective's patrol car driven by Detective Sergeant Caroline Lyng.
Where
The sentencing hearing took place at Tullamore Circuit Court.
When
  • The text messages about the plan were sent in March 2021.
  • The sentencing hearing took place on 7 May 2024 and was reported on 9 May 2024.
Cause
Padraig Power offered John Brickland €1,000 to set the car on fire and said he would accompany him.
Investigation
  • The offence came to light when John Brickland was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage relating to the family home.
  • Text messages from Padraig Power were found on Brickland's seized phone.
  • Padraig Power was arrested and taken to Tullamore Garda Station.
Charges
Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
In court
  • The judge placed the offence in the mid-range, with a headline sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
  • Padraig Power had 33 previous convictions.
Other details
Power said in interview that the plan was never going to happen and was fake talk, while Brickland said he thought the messages were a scare tactic.
Sentence
  • John Brickland received three years, suspended for five years, on his own €500 bond and must donate €5,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund in two instalments of €2,500.
  • Padraig Power received three years and six months, suspended for 18 months, on his own €500 bond.
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men conspired to set fire to a detective's patrol car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPadraig Power canvassed John Brickland about setting fire to the vehicle driven by Sgt Caroline Lyng. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe sentencing hearing took place at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe sentencing hearing took place on 7 May 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe messages were sent in March 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causePadraig Power offered €1,000 for the car to be set on fire. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe offence came to light when Brickland was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationText messages from Power to Brickland were found on Brickland's seized phone. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe offence came to light when John Brickland was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage relating to the family home. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationPadraig Power was arrested and taken to Tullamore Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeBoth men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtBoth accused pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge placed the crime in the mid-range of offences, with a headline sentence of 5 years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe two men appeared at Tullamore Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 7. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceBrickland received a 3-year sentence, suspended for 5 years on his own €500 bond. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceBrickland must donate €5,000 to the garda benevolent fund in two instalments of €2,500 each. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentencePower received a 3-year-6-month sentence, suspended for 18 months on his own €500 bond. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJohn Brickland received a three-year sentence suspended for five years on a €500 bond. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJohn Brickland must make a donation of €5,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund in two instalments. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentencePadraig Power received a three-year, six-month sentence suspended for 18 months on a €500 bond. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPower offered Brickland €1,000 to carry out the arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPower said in interview that the plan was never going to happen. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPadraig Power said the messages were never going to happen and were fake talk. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherJohn Brickland said he thought the messages were a scare tactic. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPadraig Power had 33 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the offence carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the crime as mid-range, with a headline sentence of 5 years. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 May2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Two men sentenced for conspiring to set fire to Garda car in Tullamore

    Reports the sentencing of two men at Tullamore Circuit Court for conspiring to burn a detective's patrol car, including the sentences and conditions imposed.

    convicted, Padraig Power, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Padraig Powerconvicted, John Brickland, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Brickland
  2. 7 May2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Two men sentenced for conspiring to set fire to Garda car

    Adds the sentencing outcome: Power and Brickland both pleaded guilty, and their sentences were suspended on bonds. It also gives the court details, the messages' timing (March 2021), the €1,000 offer, and Brickland's €5,000 donation condition.

    convicted, Padraig Power, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Padraig Powerconvicted, John Brickland, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Bricklandvictim, Caroline Lyng, female, irish (judged from name)Caroline Lyng