Architect was set on fire, court told

An architect's clothing was deliberately set alight with a blowtorch by a builder, Mr Frank McKiernan, who had been asked to leave lands owned by Aer Rianta chairman Mr Noel Hanlon, the High Court was told yesterday.

Mr Peter Bland, for Mr Hanlon, made the allegation when seeking interim orders against Frank McKiernan and Sons (Longford) Ltd, a construction company, with registered offices at Dublin Road, Longford, restraining Mr McKiernan from entering Mr Hanlon's premises at Main Street, Longford, and from damaging or interfering with that property.

Counsel said there was concern his client could be facing a bill of up to €50,000 for structural damage to buildings owned by him. Mr Justice Kelly granted the order sought and returned the matter to next Monday.

In an affidavit, Mr Hanlon, of Farnagh House, Farnagh Hill, Longford, said he owned premises in Longford, including premises at Main Street.

Mr Hanlon said he was made aware of damage caused to the buildings on his lands by the defendant and had instructed Mr Liam Madden, a chartered architect, to inspect the buildings on his behalf. Despite requests by Mr Madden, Mr McKiernan had continued to cause damage to the buildings.

In another affidavit, Mr Madden said Mr Hanlon had received complaints about damage caused by the defendant to his lands and, on foot of those complaints, Mr Madden was instructed to attend at the lands on February 24th last. He found Mr McKiernan continued to occupy and use the lands.

On March 5th, he visited the site and discovered the defendant's workers on a roof of a building owned by Mr Hanlon. He was verbally abused when he asked them to leave.

That same afternoon, he returned to the site where Mr McKiernan and his foreman were using a blow-torch on a roof of a building. He asked them to leave and they refused.

Mr Madden said that, at about 2.50 p.m. Mr McKiernan deliberately turned the blow-torch towards him, setting fire to his shoes and trousers. He tried to put out the fire and removed his shoes.

Mr McKiernan threw his shoes and the chair on which he was sitting away and pointed the torch at his feet. Mr Madden said the foreman had restrained him from behind and Mr McKiernan took his camera and left the roof.