Man and woman to face trial accused of setting fire to Mullingar home while alleged victims were inside

A man and a woman have appeared in court charged with igniting a flammable liquid through the front letterbox of a house and committing arson to the “entire” property while four people were inside.

Robert Brennan (35) Evington House, New Gardens, Athy Road, Carlow and his co-accused Zoe McCarthy (37) whose address presiding Judge Patricia Cronin put a media prohibition on, appeared at last week’s sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with allegedly targeting 159 Newtown Lawns, Mullingar, Westmeath on June 12, 2025.

The first charge alleged the pair “intentionally or recklessly dispersed a flammable liquid” via the property’s letterbox and “ignited the liquid causing instant fire”.

Its wording, contained under section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 alleged the incident took place while “four persons were present” and which created a “substantial risk of death or serious harm”.

The second charge alleges both Mr Brennan and Ms McCarthy committed arson to the “entire dwelling” under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.

Detective Garda James Grogan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said both defendants made no reply when each of the charges were read out to them with true copies of both being handed to them prior to their attendance in court.

Det Garda Grogan confirmed directions had been received from the DPP for both accused to stand trial on indictment in the Circuit Criminal Court.

Sgt Orla Keenan said there was also consent to one or both going forward on a signed plea should that arise over the fullness of time.

Mr Brennan, the court heard, was currently in custody on other matters as his defence solicitor Diarmuid Quinn confirmed there would be no application for bail.

He did opt to take up the disclosure of the State’s case in order to evaluate the offer by the prosecution of a signed plea.

Mr Brennan was remanded in custody to appear back via video link at Tuesday’s sitting of Longford District Court.

Ms McCarthy, meanwhile, was granted bail subject to strict conditions after they had been canvassed with her and defence barrister Ross Nestor BL.

She was barred from entering county Westmeath with the exception of court appearances and specified legal consultations, to obey a 10pm to 7am curfew and to have no contact either directly or indirectly with the alleged injured parties Michael Galvin, Debbie Gill, members of the Galvin and Gill families and their immediate relations.

Ms McCarthy was also ordered to stay off all social media, to sign on three times a week at Carlow Garda Station and surrender her passport which Mr Ross confirmed had already been done.

He said the alleged incident had come from a “certain context” between families and applied for a media ban on the publication of her home address “for her safety and the safety of others”.

Judge Cronin affirmed that request and remanded Ms McCarthy on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on June 4 for the servicing of a book of evidence.