A man from Kildare who has been charged with the arson of his own home appears in court.
Robert Kelly, 46, allegedly set his own home alight on May 26 causing around €100,000 worth of damage.
Kelly has been charged with reckless damage to property without lawful excuse.
“It is alleged he set fire to his own house (at Ottomy Avenue, Clane on 26 May),” said Sergeant Mary Meade via the Kildare Nationalist.
“It was a semi-detached building that belongs to Kildare County Council. He waited until his neighbour was away but burned the whole building down," the sergeant continued.
It was revealed in earlier reports that Kelly experienced schizophrenic episodes and is prescribed with anti-psychotic medication.
The man has recently discovered the consequence of his actions. On June 4th he was remanded back into custody as he now had no address to which he could be bailed.
As the offence had allegedly occurred less than two weeks previously Sgt Meade explained to the court that the DPP had yet to decide how to progress the prosecution.
According to the Kildare Nationalist, if the judge signs a bond, Kelly can't walk as he has nowhere to go. “We’ve been trying to find him a hostel, but because he isn’t applying himself through Kildare County Council, they have an issue with this,” he explained.
Solicitor Matt Byrne stated that "this is the fifth time this case has been listed," and confirms that he is not seeking to have the case adjourned but "this is the farcical nature of this case, when solicitors can get attacked in the street for not taking cases."
Byrne, alike many other solicitors, is on strike, therefore there have been significant delays with the case. Solicitors are on strike against the changing legal aid payments.
