A 32-year-old male, Shane Casey from Shanowen, Rathcormac in County Cork, is facing charges of attempted murder and causing intentional criminal damage in connection with a incident that transpired on Christmas Day of 2023 in Cork City. It is alleged that Casey tried to kill a man, Billy Murphy, at Murphy’s residence located on Dyke Parade close to the city’s centre.
Det. Garda Brian Barron from the Bridewell Garda station testified on Casey’s arrest, charge, and caution, stating that Casey did not react when charged with the offence. Casey also remained silent when supplementary charges were brought against him, which included inflicting physical harm to Murphy, brandishing a knife, and causing criminal damage with the intent to jeopardise life.
Casey’s defence solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, stated that his client would not be seeking bail as it is not feasible to apply for bail on an attempted murder charge at the District Court level.
Garda Insp Martin Canny indicated that the DPP recommended that the charge of attempted murder should be dealt with by a jury trial before a judge in the Central Criminal Court. Canny endeavoured for Casey’s remand to be extended to June 5th at Cork District Court, which would allow the State to align the most recent allegations with existing charges against Casey, including that of arson.
Judge Philip O’Leary approved the State’s request and ordered Casey’s custody to be extended, with a court appearance scheduled on June 5th to face all charges.
During a prior court hearing in March, when Casey was charged with arson of the premises on Dyke Parade on December 25th, Det. Gda Barron opposed bail for the defendant. The basis of this opposition revolved around the gravity of the crime, potential life imprisonment, and compelling evidence such as CCTV recordings against Casey.
The accusation levelled by the State is that Casey approached the occupied house on Dyke Parade and doused the front door with an inflammable liquid before igniting it. The State further claims that Casey entered the house after the fire burnt out, commencing another fire at the foot of the stairway of the four-storey building.
The claims made by the State indicate that Mr. Casey allegedly emerged from the historical building and positioned himself outside the main entrance, spectating as fire engulfed the interior hallways. The State accuses Mr. Casey of barricading the building’s main entryway from the exterior around 6.06pm, propping a wooden plank diagonally under the door in a bid to prevent escape.
Detective Garda Barron projected that four individuals resided in the building during the event, one of whom, a man, dramatically tried to flee from the fiery structure. Detectives indicate that Mr. Casey allegedly confronted this individual, attacking him with a knife and causing a wound to his forehead, leaving the man with no option but to retreat back into the flaming building with Mr. Casey trailing him.
Barron recounted that footage from CCTV showed the duo grappling, with Mr. Casey brandishing the blade in an effort to block the man’s attempts to escape the fire. While three of the building’s occupants managed to flee to safety, a woman remained trapped upstairs requiring the assistance of Cork City Fire Brigade for rescue.
Detective Barron expressed his belief that the woman’s life could have been lost in the deliberately set fire if the Cork City firefighters hadn’t acted promptly.