A WOMAN has gone on trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court charged with setting fire to her local authority house four years ago.
Veronica MacAnespie (45), Tulach Ard, Rahoon, denies setting fire to the semi-detached house, owned by Galway City Council, on November 28th, 2007.
Two units of Galway Fire Brigade were called to the fire at about 5am and had to break in because the front and back doors were locked. The cost of repairing fire and smoke damage was estimated at more than €65,000. The council carried out the repairs and returned Ms MacAnespie to the house.
Det Garda John Lavery said two spent matches and a number of plastic bottles containing petrol were found in the kitchen and in an upstairs bedroom and bathroom, while a five-litre petrol can was found on the stairs.
Garda Darragh Ainsworth found Ms McAnespie walking down a road near the house. She had black smoke and soot on her face and hands, was using a crutch and dragging a number of suitcases and plastic bags after her.
He suspected she might be involved in the fire and arrested her. He said he and Garda Emma Kerins took her to hospital.
Council housing officer Patricia Philbin told the trial that between 2002 to the time of the fire Ms MacAnespie lodged more than 40 complaints with the council about her neighbours. Most of the complaints were against Anthony McDonagh and his family.
While Ms MacAnespie wanted the complaints recorded, she did not want them acted upon.
Ciarán O’Loughlin SC, defending, said Ms MacAnespie did not want to go to the Garda because she was afraid of Mr McDonagh. Ms MacAnespie, he said, had claimed Mr McDonagh told her he wanted her out of the house so that one of his own family could live there.
Mr O’Loughlin said no traces of accelerants were found on Ms MacAnespie’s clothes.
McDonagh, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for shooting part of a man’s hand off, has denied setting the fire or threatening her or her son.
The trial continues.