Suspended sentence for chef who set fire to his sister’s home

A talented chef, who set fire to his sister's home after she had secured a barring order against him, has been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

There was no one in the house when Jason Breen (41) poured petrol through an upstairs window. However, a neighbour who witnessed the incident went inside the burning building to save a dog which she believed was inside. The dog was later found unharmed in the yard.

Breen was arrested shortly after with singed hair and burn marks.

He said he wanted to burn down the house because his sister had barred him, and the house was the last thing that had belonged to his late mother. He said he hadn’t slept in nine days and was taking crack cocaine and “snow blow” at the time.

Breen of Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire pleaded guilty to arson at St Anne’s Park, Dun Laoghaire on July 30th, 2013.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced Breen to three years in prison, but suspended it in full on condition that he keeps the peace for three years.

She said arson was a particularly serious crime, not just because of the risk to people’s safety and the physical damage caused to properties, but because of the “general horror” of fire in the community.

However, Judge Ring noted that Breen had no previous convictions and had used his time profitably to engage fully in drug rehabilitation through a residential course at Coolmine treatment centre.

She noted that Breen was a talented chef with an excellent work history, who was willing to offer his talent to help others in Coolmine.

Garda Fergal Dunne told prosecuting counsel Ronan Kennedy BL that Breen was living with his sister Tina Breen when he began to act erratically and aggressively towards her.

Ms Breen felt she “was walking on eggshells” and became increasingly concerned for her safety. In July 2013, she got a safety order against him. Breen had already left the house at this stage.

Five days later, a family member phoned Ms Breen to say her brother had learned of the barring order and was threatening to burn down her house.

Ms Breen left the house and spent the evening driving around Bray. A short time later her brother arrived there with two cans of petrol. He was spotted by a neighbour kicking in a window before pouring in the fuel and setting it alight.

His neighbour then saw him “stroll” down the street. She shouted after him “what about the dog”, but Breen kept walking.

The fire brigade arrived and extinguished the flames.

Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC said Breen made immediate admissions when he was arrested. She said he came from “a dysfunctional and damaged background” and that his sister only wanted him to get help, and not to go to jail.