Judge says 'further arson' by Longford man an 'affront to court'
Paddy Rogers, who is in his mid-20s, of Ferefad, Longford, appeared in Longford Circuit Court recently.
A judge has reactivated a two-year suspended sentence for a Longford man who was convicted of an arson attack on a van and car outside a home in July 2022, for what he described as an 'affront' and a 'further case of arson'.
Paddy Rogers, who is in his mid-20s, of Ferefad, Longford, appeared in Longford Circuit Court recently.
He was imprisoned at Mullingar Circuit Court on December 9, 2025 for an offence that triggered a three year prison sentence imposed in July 2022.
Mr Rogers, formerly of 43 Farnagh, Longford, and Lisanurlan, Longford, pleaded guilty to damaging a car by fire at Park Road on February 6, 2021, and damage by fire to a van on the same night.
He previously admitted to attempted arson where he placed a fire lighter on the inside windowsill of a house on Park Road while its residents were inside.
One of the vehicles, a green Renault van, was valued at €1,500 and cost €180 for removal from the property, while a Peugeot 307 car was valued at €700.
One of the injured parties also said in a victim impact statement that he had to foot a bill of €1,470 from the fire service.
The court heard the complainant awoke on the night when he heard windows in his house being smashed and he then observed a man at the broken window who had a lit firelighter placed nearby on a windowsill.
The man heard a bang moments later and he saw flames and smoke bellowing from two vehicles next door.
Gardaí and the local fire service attended the scene and there were no injuries reported and there were no injuries reported or damage to any surrounding homes.
The complainant, who was not residing at the house, said in his victim impact statement that he had been storing the vehicles outside the premises.
In July 2022, presiding Judge Keenan Johnson heard the damaged Renault Master van was worth €1500 and the Peugeot 307 car was valued at €700 while a bill of €1470 was sent to the man by the fire service for their attendance on the night.
Mr Rogers was convicted at Longford Circuit Court in July 2022 and sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended for a five year period.
However, the defendant was sentenced on December 9, 2025 in Mullingar and handed a two year custodial sentence, which triggered the re-entry of the July 2022 suspended sentence.
Barrister Niall Flynn, defending, said the court had to take into consideration Mr Rogers' background' and his still relatively young age.
"Rightly or wrongly, and certainly wrongly in this instance he behaved in a manner he shouldn't have, but there were significant surrounding circumstances in the [overall] view of the case which caused Mr Rogers to react in a certain way."
Mr Flynn said Mr Rogers is not an inherently bad person, he certainly can't be deemed an evil person.
"He has significant baggage in his life for a younger person and it causes him to react in an inappropriate manner and fly off handle on occasion.
"He's a young man that prior to his incarceration he was living in temporary accommodation if I can put it that way.
"He has no structures really in his life, he has no other familial connection with any other family members.
"His brother Declan is the only solitary person who he can turn to in his life.
"He has instructed me he has had no contact with his brother Declan since he has been incarcerated.
"Of course he is acutely aware custody is meant to be a hard place."
Mr Flynn said some people do not have the comfort of family members coming in to see them.
"He does not have any access arrangements, he has no visitors, he has no daily contacts in the system, he is essentially a sad case in the overall circumstances."
Mr Flynn said his client is due to be released from prison at some stage, but he needs a structure in his life.
"I'd ask the court to consider not activating the entirety of it or suspend the entirety of it on certain conditions that will put structure in Mr Rogers life and engage him in probation supervision.
"He needs some figure in the background to ensure that he is able to obtain accommodation."
Speaking at Longford Circuit Court, Judge Kenneth Connolly said he was 'disappointed' that Mr Rogers had broken the terms of his suspended sentence.
"But, I'm more disappointed that he's broken the terms of a suspended sentence in a further case of arson. I think that's an affront to the court and the opportunities he was given.
"So, I'm going to revoke the entirety of the suspension of the three years suspended for five years."
Judge Connolly said there was two years remaining and he directed that he serve that two year sentence consecutive to a separate two year prison sentence which was imposed on Mr Rogers on December 9, 2025 in Mullingar.
However, Judge Connolly said he was going to suspend the final 15 months of that sentence for a period of three years post release from prison.
"Essentially what I intend to do is add nine months less remission to the sentence," he added.
Judge Connolly said in order to avail of that period of suspension Mr Rogers would have to enter his own bond of €100 to 'be of good behaviour and keep the peace' for a period of three years following his release from prison.
"I'm going to require him to submit to an 18-month probation supervision bond during that suspension period during which I will require him to follow all directions of the probation service and in particular to engage with the employment officer of the probation service in the hope of returning to employment.
"Regrettably, if Mr Rogers breaches the bond and is in any trouble during that period of three years he will yet again undoubtedly be faced with a Section 99 re-entry to serve the balance of the sentence."