Grand-uncle of Offaly boy killed in firebomb attack 'very drunk' in court

A CLOSE relation of the woman and child killed in the Edenderry firebomb attack was drunk when he appeared in court today (Wednesday, February 18) on a knife possession charge.

Christopher Holt (47), 29 Castleview Park, Edenderry was before Tullamore District Court for a second successive Wednesday after Judge Andrew Cody heard a week ago that a defence lawyer could not take instructions from him “given his condition”.

When Mr Holt (pictured below) sat in the courtroom this morning he had to leave after Judge Cody remarked that he had been “mumbling” and when his case was called in the afternoon the judge told defence counsel David Nugent, BL: “We're back to square one”.

Mr Nugent replied: “I think we're back beyond that.”

Mr Holt, a grand-uncle of four-year-old arson victim, the late Tadgh Farrell, then greeted Judge Cody saying: “Hello, your honour.”

Judge Cody told him the alleged offence before the court was serious, to which the accused man replied that he was “really sorry”.

The judge responded: “You're really drunk. You were really drunk the last time you were here.”

He added: “I'm not in a position to deal with this case when you turn up drunk every day.”

He said he would remand Mr Holt in custody to Portlaoise District Court the next day (tomorrow, February 19).

Mr Holt asked: “Can I not just go home and come back?”

The judge repeated his order and told the accused he was being remanded in garda custody until Thursday morning.

Mr Nugent agreed that was a fair approach.

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Christopher Holt is accused of having a knife in a public place at St Patrick's Road, Edenderry on April 26, 2025.

A week ago it emerged that Mr Holt is living in the kitchen of the house which was firebombed in December, resulting in the deaths of Tadgh Farrell and Mary Holt (60).

Mr Nugent told the court that day that he had had bumped into his client before lunch but he could not take formal instructions from him “given his condition”.

Mr Nugent added: “He got his timings askew. He stopped on the way.”

Judge Cody responded: “He took a few stops on the way.”

Sergeant Richard Thornton, court presenter, said he was of the view that Mr Holt was “not in a fit state”.

The judge said the accused had not appeared in court on a previous date when he was supposed to and a warrant was issued.

Mr Nugent said “everyone” knew the address Mr Holt was at and he was available there.

He was living “solely in the kitchen”. “The rest of the house is uninhabitable.”

Defence counsel said he would like the matter to be dealt with on the day but could not given the defendant's condition.

House number 29 in Castleview Park, Edenderry was firebombed on December 6 and along with the two fatalities, serious injury was caused to Pauline Holt, grandmother of Tadgh.

Aaron Holt (27), father of Tadgh and with an address at the same house, was jailed last month for seven years for a drugs possession offence committed at Castleview Park in 2024.

Gardai continue to investigate the firebomb attack on the house.