Man sent forward for trial to circuit court on three counts of arson in Tullamore

THE Book of Evidence was served by Garda Stacey O'Brien on a man charged with three counts of arson when he appeared at last week's Tullamore District Court.

Faris Doherty (29) Puttaghaun, Tullamore, is alleged to have damaged by fire a Hyundai car on May 5 2022, and on the same date at 1 Charleville Parade, it's alleged he damaged by fire the front windows, doors and front wall of 1 Charleville Parade Tullamore, and it's also alleged he damaged by fire the front windows and front wall of 2 Charleville Parade, Tullamore.

Mr Doherty was sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court on April 18, 2023.

Sgt James O'Sullivan said Mr Doherty will be tried on indictment and may be sent forward on a signed plea. Legal aid was granted to Mr Donal Farrelly and one counsel.

For the second time in three weeks Gardai objected to bail being granted to the defendant who is denying the charges. Mr Farrelly said they were a rehash of the original objections.

At a court sitting on Wednesday January 4, Detective Garda Hanley said Mr Doherty had broken a condition of his bail in that he had been allegedly seen by one of the alleged victims walking past her house on two occasions.

Judge Andrew Cody requested that the victim appear in court to give evidence at the January 12 sitting however, she failed to do so and he remanded Mr Doherty on continuing bail to appear at last Wednesday's January 18 sitting for service of the book of evidence.

In his evidence to the court at last week's sitting Detective Garda Hanley said Mr Doherty is facing serious charges but he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. He then went on to give details of the crime which Mr Doherty is alleged to have committed.

He said he was making a fresh objection to bail and had obtained CCTV footage from the court house which showed a male who he identified as the defendant Faris Doherty walking along the path outside Lloyd Town Park opposite the courthouse on Cormac Street and near where the alleged injured parties live on Christmas Eve, 2022.

Having viewed the CCTV footage, Judge Andrew Cody said he couldn't identify Mr Doherty.

Detective Hanley said Mr Doherty has a distinctive walk and there was a considerable distance between the height of the town park railing and the height of Mr Doherty who is very tall,

Solicitor Donal Farrelly put it to Detective Hanley that he couldn't see the face on the person he identified as Mr Doherty in the video. Responding Detective Hanley said it's not just the face it's the walk and his height. The face is just one aspect he said.

Mr Farrelly said Detective Hanley had no idea how many tall people walk up and down that path.

Is that your ''best shot'' he asked. Detective Hanley replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions had also objected to bail.

Donal Farrelly said Mr Doherty had complied with bail conditions, he had moved out of his home at Charleville Parade to quite a distance away, he was signing on at the garda station and he was contactable.

He said the bail conditions had been fixed and they were quite difficult. He said there was no evidence before the Judge that Faris Doherty had breached any conditions.

Judge Cody said Mr Doherty has given sworn evidence that he didn't commit the crime and people don't often give sworn evidence he said.

He remanded Faris Doherty on continuing bail on his own bond of €100 with independent surety of €2,000. However, he said he was going to impose one more bail condition which is to stay out of Tullamore. If he wants to go into the town he must contact the gardai. His other conditions include staying away from alcohol, maintaining a curfew between 8pm and 8am each day. He is to sign on at Tullamore garda station and make no contact with the two alleged victims in the case. He is to surrender his passport. He is to stay away from Cormac Street, Charleville Parade and the town park.