Man charged with Newbridge arson unable to attend court

A 39-year-old man charged with arson after a blaze went out of control and gutted six terraced houses in Co Kildare last week was unable to attend a court hearing on Wednesday.

Daragh Ward with an address at Millfield Manor, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was due to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. However, Judge Victor Blake was furnished with a sick warrant and further remanded him in custody in his absence to appear on April 22nd next.

Last week, after he was initially charged, a judge had recommended that he should get psychiatric treatment while in custody.

Gardaí and fire-fighters attended the scene at about 4pm on March 31st when Millfield Manor had to be evacuated.

Six houses, including Mr Ward’s own home, were extensively damaged and personal belongings were destroyed but nobody suffered injury.

Mr Ward was arrested after he presented himself at Cellbridge Garda station later that day.

He was transferred to Newbridge Garda Station where he was held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and subsequently charged with causing criminal damage by fire to a neighbouring house, number 65 Millfield Manor.

The 39-year-old made no reply to the charge, Det Garda Maeve Ward had said at his first hearing last Thursday at Dublin District Court.

The court was also told that he was in employment but was on leave.