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. 5513Harassment; arson; criminal damage · Co. Laois

William Phelan jailed for 10 years over harassment of niece and Mountrath arson

William Phelan, 57, a farmer from Paddock, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to harassing his adult niece over phone calls, voice messages and Facebook posts, and to arson at a storage facility at his takeaway in 2022. He was jailed for 10 years, with the final two years suspended on conditions.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 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)
  • whenThe harassment offences took place between February 15, 2023 and July 5, 2023. (irishmirror.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)
  • 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