A HOMELESS man who started fires at St James’s Hospital, Heuston railway station and James’s Street, causing the evacuation of the station and cancellation of the Luas, has been given a seven-year prison sentence, but has been allowed to go free.
Denis Miles (31) has been in custody since his arrest in October 2007. He had the balance of the sentence suspended from yesterday on strict conditions.
Miles, of no fixed abode, was said to have a severe speech impediment and started the fires “to get the upset out”.
The fire brigade found a homeless person sleeping in a fridge in an unused building where Miles started his last fire.
Miles pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of arson at St James’s Hospital, Heuston Station and James’s Street on dates in September and October 2007. He has a previous conviction for arson.
Judge Katherine Delahunt suspended the balance of the sentence on condition that Miles liaise with the Probation Service and Focus Ireland, which are arranging accommodation and support services for him.
She also ordered that he attend anger-management and drug-rehabilitation courses as well as engage with the psychiatric services and follow a specific medication plan if appropriate.
Judge Delahunt commended the “amazing” work of Focus Ireland in arranging multidisciplinary services and accommodation for Miles.
Garda Paul Cornish told Cathleen Noctor, prosecuting, that three fires were set in St James’s Hospital on September 25th, 2007. He did not have the figures for the damage caused. The first, in a waste bin outside the chief executive officer’s building, was quickly extinguished by staff.
The second, in the men’s toilets on the main hospital concourse, did not take off and was also extinguished.
He said the third fire, in a waste bin outside the regional orthodontic department, had to be extinguished by the fire brigade; the gas had to be turned off as the fire was near a gas line.
Garda Cornish said a fire started in the men’s toilets of Heuston Station on October 4th, 2007, which caused extensive damage, cost €11,500 to repair and necessitated the evacuation of the building.
Miles had come to the Garda station in a distressed state and made certain admissions. He said his social welfare money had gone missing and he was upset because it was his birthday and he had no money.
He said he had slept the previous night in the Phoenix Park and the next morning had gone to the building where he sometimes slept. He said he put a match to a dustbin bag because he was “upset in himself”.
Garda Cornish agreed with Luán Ó Braonáin, defending, that Miles had a severe speech impediment, which led to a sense of isolation and frustration. He said Miles was extremely remorseful and almost had the demeanour of a child during interview.
Mr Ó Braonáin said Miles and his mother had returned to Ireland from Britain when he was a child following the break-up of his parents’ relationship. He spent time in “special schools” and after an incident in his childhood, he began to exhibit an interest in fire.