Man given reprieve from judge after setting fire to his flat

Man given reprieve from judge after setting fire to his flat

29 June 2016

A DOWNPATRICK man has avoided jail despite admitting an arson attack on his own flat.

Michael McKinney has been given six months to prove he has changed following the fire which prompted an emergency evacuation of the McLaughlin House flat complex at Saul Street on January 5, 2015.

Although McKinney (51), now of Stream Street, initially denied arson endangering life, claiming the fire may have been caused by faulty Christmas tree lights or by another person, he later changed his plea to guilty.

At his sentencing at Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday afternoon, a prosecutor said fire crews had responded within five minutes of receiving a call at around 1am on January 5.

Upon arrival, fire crews noted neighbours had already evacuated onto the street while the defendant escaped from a window to be placed on a stretcher.

However, they said he was quickly “up and about” and appeared fine.

A search of his flat revealed that smoke alarms had been dismantled and were on his kitchen table with the back-up batteries removed. There was also a partially drunk bottle of rum on the table.

Judge Stephen Fowler described the offence as “serious and worrying.”

However, he said he believed it would be worthwhile to defer McKinney’s sentencing for six months “to see how he gets on.”

Removing stringent bail conditions, including a curfew and tagging system, Judge Fowler ordered McKinney to reside with his mother pending sentencing in December.

He noted that the defendant, who has mental health difficulties and alcohol issues, had lived with his mother since the January fire during which time there had been a “dramatic improvement” in his well-being.

Pleading for leniency, a defence barrister said there had been a “measure of intimidation” against the defendant while he lived at McLaughlin House.

“He has got himself back on the Biblical road to Damascus. He has made very considerable efforts addressing what he recognises to be very obvious difficulties in his life. He has taken Herculean steps to get his life back in order,” he said.

“That can only be tested with him back in the community without the restrictions he has been under.”

Judge Fowler accepted there had been “unwanted and unnecessary hostility towards” the defendant, who had been isolated and lonely when he committed the offence.

“This is a serious offence, normally met with a custodial sentence, it is only in exceptional cases where it does not,” he said.

Recommending that McKinney engage with the community addiction team pending sentencing, Judge Fowler said he believed it may offer valuable support.