Orange Hall arsonist receives suspended prison sentence

The Portadown man who admitted carrying out an arson attack on Clounagh Orange Hall has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Gareth Breen, (25), of Ballyoran Park, who was caught by two lodge members as he tried to flee the scene, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for three years.

Breen admitted attempting to set fire to the hall at Brownstown Road, on February 15 last year, and with damaging a wooden arch.

A Crown lawyer told the court that a member of the lodge which meets in the hall went to the building to turn on the heating for a meeting later that day. The lawyer said the man noticed what he thought was the smell of gas. He checked the hall but did not notice anything. The man left the hall and returned with another member. After checking the building, they went to the back, and saw someone running from the area. The lawyer said the man - Breen - jumped a fence, and he was caught by the lodge members, and apprehended. A box of matches fell to the ground. The lawyer said Breen made a further attempt to run off, but was again detained, and brought back to the Orange Hall. The police arrived on the scene and Breen was arrested. On being taken to the station it was noticed that he had a number of items including the box of matches in his possession. Further investigation at the Orange Hall showed that a window at the back of the building had been smashed.

The lawyer said Breen revealed that he had been at the building a week before the offence, and saw there were grilles on the window, and that was why he decided to bring a spanner with him.

On February 15 he left his home about two miles from the Orange Hall, and had a two-litre container with him containing one-quarter of petrol, to start a fire.

Breen said he went to the rear of the hail, smashed the window and poured the petrol in, then used the matches to light a cloth he had with him.

Answering Judge Pat Markey, the Crown counsel said damage resulting from the accused's action amounted to £1,500.

Counsel said Breen also told police he had "a problem with Protestants", and "wanted to get back at them."

Judge Markey said the pre-sentence report referred to an incident in which Breen and his girlfriend had been driving their car when a missile was thrown at them, shattering the windscreen. This influenced him to seek retribution.

Defence counsel Mr Joel Lindsay, (instructed by Mr John McAtamney), highlighted Breen's clear record, and claimed the pre-sentence reports underlined that the offences were out of character.

Mr Lindsay stressed that Breen had made a full and frank admission of the offence.

Breen had spent three months in custody, the equivalent of a six-month prison sentence. This resulted in him losing his employment.

Urging a non-custodial sentence, Mr Lindsay said Breen, who is in a 'mixed' relationship, is getting on with his life, and has not re-offended.

He said that if a non-custodial sentence was imposed, Breen had hopes of getting another job.

Mr Lindsay said Breen is remorseful for his action, and accepts it was not a pleasant experience for those who use the hall.

Imposing sentence, Judge Markey told Breen, "You have pleaded guilty to what are serious offences - an attack on an .Orange Hall."

He continued, "I am prepared to accept there is a degree of remorse on your part."

However, Judge Markey said this was the sort of offence which could have led to a lot of communal tension, and the danger of tit-for-tat reprisals.

"It can get feelings high," he told Breen. "That was the kind of stupidity on your part."

Judge Breen told Breen he could understand him being annoyed at the attack on his car, but this should not have led him to take law into his own hands.

Judge Markey, in imposing sentence, said he took into account Breen's previous clear record, that he had been leading an industrious life, and had not committed any previous offence.

"You have come before the court with a clear record, but unfortunately you will not leave it with a clear record," he said."I don't expect you to offend against the law again." 23rd January 2009 Portadown Times

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