Petrol-soaked teddy allegedly used in house blaze
The burnt-out house on Main Street, Castledermot
A COUPLE who allegedly burned down a family home in Castledermot last week (12 June) with a petrol-soaked teddy bear, and then stole a car after crashing their getaway vehicle, were both remanded in custody until 3 July.
Zoe Carthy (36), Cluain Bui, Quinagh, Co Carlow and Robbie Brennan (35) of Ebbington House, New Gardens, Athy Road, both appeared at Naas District Court for the second time in five days, this time by videolink. The pair had initially appeared at a special sitting the previous Saturday following their arrests in relation to the arson of a home at Abbey View, Main Street, Castledermot on 12 June.
Both are also charged with taking a car without the owner’s consent at Gorteenvacken, Castledermot on the same day.
Noting Mr Brennan appearing injured on screen, Judge Desmond Zaidan asked: “What happened your face? You’ve got a black eye and stitches.” “I fell,” was the answer.
“What happened here?” asked the judge.
“A €200,000 arson – the burning of a house. This house was gutted,” explained Sgt Dave Hanrahan, who then reminded the judge that he had presided over the special sittings the previous Saturday.
“This is very serious,” said the judge, shaking his head.
“There’s no directions (from the DPP),” said Sgt Hanrahan, unsurprisingly, at this early stage in the investigation.
“Thankfully, it didn’t spread to the other town houses,” noted the judge.
“Mr Brennan and a co-accused threw petrol into a house soaked in a teddy bear,” alleged the sergeant. “The female co-accused borrowed a car from a friend, went to the house where the owner could see them. He got his family out and chased them,” said the sergeant.
“The defendant then crashed and they stole another one to get away. I remember this now,” said the judge, before remanding Mr Brennan into custody for a fortnight.
Ms McCarthy was next up on the screen from Dochas and, immediately, her solicitor Joe Coonan said: “I spoke with her this morning; she says she didn’t do it.” “But she poured the petrol (on the teddy bear) that someone else lit,” said the judge.
He then noted that he had also refused her bail five days previously.
Mr Coonan told the court that his client had a High Court bail appeal pending “next week” and was willing to accept a further remand of two weeks “as per phone call this morning”.
“These matters are very early on in the investigation. It was only first before you five days ago, and we need to build a forensic case,” the sergeant reminded the judge, who then remanded Ms McCarthy also until 3 July.
“Chat tomorrow, Zoe,” said Mr Coonan.
“Thanks a million, Joe,” said the defendant on screen.
