A teenage arsonist who admitted to the manslaughter of a man who died in a blaze at a hostel two years ago was freed on three years' probation yesterday. Jolene Thompson (16) has the mental age of an 11-year-old.
In Downpatrick Crown Court, Lord Justice Campbell accepted medical opinions that to jail her "would be damaging to her mental health both directly and in terms of impairing her adolescent development".
Thompson, whose father was murdered by the UVF in August 1994, had been charged with the murder of Mr Brian Smith (37), who died in the blaze at the Thorndale Avenue hostel for the homeless in Belfast on March 16th, 1999.
The charge was dropped when she pleaded guilty to Mr Smith's manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm on three others caught in the blaze.
Joseph Patrick Mackin (31), from Belfast, was jailed for three years last June for the manslaughter, while Alison Cush (19), also of Belfast, was freed on 12 months' probation for conspiracy to assault.