Uncle of Offaly boy killed in arson attack fined for drugs offence

AN uncle of the four-year-old boy killed in the arson attack in Edenderry was fined €500 for a drugs offence this week after returning home for his nephew's funeral.

Dylan Farrell (25), Killane Drive, Edenderry, from whom a tribute was read at the funeral Mass for Tadgh Farrell, had travelled from the Isle of Man following the deaths of his nephew and the boy's grandaunt Mary Holt.

Mr Farrell appeared at Wednesday's sitting of Tullamore District Court which was told the prosecution was re-entering a case following his failure to comply with a community service order.

Dylan Kavanagh, probation officer, told Judge Andrew Cody that in March 2024 Mr Farrell had been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service.

Mr Kavanagh said that so far, the man had completed no hours and gardai had said he was living in the Isle of Man.

David Nugent, BL, for Mr Farrell, Mr Nugent, confirmed the accused had been living in the Isle of Man and had left Edenderry “to break a cycle he was falling into”.

Mr Farrell had done really well there, working as a steel fitter and returned for the funeral of his nephew.

Mr Nugent said the man's partner was with him in court and she is expecting a baby in June.

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The barrister said Mr Farrell hadn't been in any trouble in the Isle of Man and was living a very quiet life.

“He has made a brand new life for himself, it's been quite positive and quite beneficial for him.”

When Judge Cody put it to Mr Nugent that the 240 hours of community service had been ordered in lieu of four months in prison, counsel said prison would benefit nobody in this case.

He asked the court to “consider a token or remorse” in lieu of the community service and said the accused would be going back to his employment in the Isle of Man.

Judge Cody ordered Mr Farrell to pay €1,000 to the Society of St Vincent de Paul.

Mr Nugent then entered pleas of guilty to two charges, one which alleged possession of cannabis at Killane Drive on October 21, 2020 and another which alleged that Mr Farrell obstructed or impeded a garda during a drugs search at Greenwood Park in Edenderry on May 30, 2024.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court the obstruction charge involved Mr Farrell fleeing on foot.  He had €60 worth of cannabis.

Sergeant Kearns said that in addition to drugs offences, the accused had previous convictions for road traffic offences, criminal damage, possession of a knife, and production of an article in the course of a dispute.

He had previously received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.

Judge Cody imposed a €500 fine for the obstruction offence and ordered that it be paid forthwith. He took the drugs possession charge into consideration.

When the €1,000 contribution to St Vincent de Paul was paid the judge applied the Probation Act instead of the community service order.

Tadgh Farrell and 60-year-old Mary Holt were killed when a house at Castleview Park in Edenderry was petrol bombed on Saturday, December 6.

A tribute to Tadgh from Dylan Farrell was read at the boy's funeral Mass by Fr Gregory Corcoran.

The tribute began: “Today we gather with heavy hearts to honour and remember someone we loved deeply, my nephew Tadgh. His time with us was far too short but the impact he left on our lives will last forever.”

Mr Farrell said that from the moment Tadgh came into the family “he brought a light that was unmistakable”.

The tribute continued: “He had a way of making people smile, whether through his laughter, his kindness, or simply in the way he showed up in the world. One thing everyone knew about Tadgh was how much he loved dirt bikes. The boy could talk about bikes for hours and I can't even count how many times he came to me, pestering and pleading, 'Will you open the shed, Dyl?' and every single time, he just wanted to see the bikes, touch them, fix them, learn about them. Even when it annoyed me in the moment, looking back, those memories are precious.

“His excitement, his passion, his determination; they were part of who he was. Tadgh, losing you has left a space in our lives that nothing can fill. But as we grieve, we also remember the light he brought into the world; his enthusiasm, his love, all of it stays with us.

“Today we say goodbye to Tadgh far too soon but we also say 'thank you' Tadgh for the memories. Thank you for the laughter, thank you for the love you gave without even realising it. Tadgh, we will carry you with us always, may you rest in peace. My little man, my best friend, my nephew, Tadgh. Today, tomorrow and always, your uncle Dyl.”