A JUDGE told a man who broke into a woman’s home while armed with chisels and set her house on fire that he believed he still had a “lot of good” in him.
John Ryan (34), of Heather Grove, Dooradoyle, Limerick, who the court heard waged a campaign of harassment against the woman before setting her home on fire was jailed for 10 years by Judge Simon McAleese at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Ryan was in breach of bail for harassing the woman when he smashed through a window at her home, armed with chisels, and torched her apartment as she fled in terror from the property.
In his judgement Judge McAleese said he took into account that, at the time of his offending, Ryan was suffering from the effects of severe depressive and psychologically distress as a result of past trauma.
He told Ryan he had committed “truly dreadful” crimes against the woman, but hoped he would find a way of moving forward with his life in a positive way before he gets out of jail.
“I do believe you have a deal of good in you,” Judge McAlesse told Ryan.
“You do need to get straightened out, and I believe prison is a good place for that.
“Hopefully you will then be a safer person and a safer prospect for society.”
The judge said Ryan pleaded guilty to harassing the woman on June 3, 2024, in “particularly vile” communications which put the woman “in fear”, adding that he did not want to repeat the “appealing” nature of Ryan’s harassing communications.
“She is a decent and reputable person who had the misfortune of encountering you,” the judge told Ryan.
Judge McAleese said he had to balance Ryan’s “truly dreadful” offending with mitigation factors, including that he suffered “terrible” difficulties arising out of his mother’s death.
Ryan also pleaded guilty to committing aggravated burglary and arson at the woman’s home on August 10, 2024.
“The woman’s front door was locked and he smashed her kitchen window in gaining entry, cutting himself in the process, and the woman fled the property in terror,” the judge said.
“He was armed with chisels and he instilled terror in the fortunate victim before setting fire to her home.”
In her victim impact statement, the woman said she lost her sense of safety, her mental health was damaged, and she felt withdrawn and on edge.
A psychological assessment report in respect of Ryan found he was less of a risk of re-offending when not abusing substances, that he had real insight into the harm he caused, and had “expressed shame, remorse, and regret”.
The judge said he was satisfied to reduce a headline sentence of 15 years to 12 because of Ryan’s guilty plea.
He further reduced the sentence to 10 years, back-dating the sentence to August 10, 2024, after taking into account Ryan’s earlier “terrible difficulties”.
In respect of the harassment offence, Judge McAleese reduced a headline sentence of two and a half years in prison, to one and a half. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The judge also ordered that Ryan could never communicate with the victim again, nor was he ever to approach her place of residence, work, or education. He also ordered that Ryan receive all and any necessary psychological health services while in prison.
Speaking afterwards, the victim, supported in court by her family, said: “I am happy with outcome, I wasn’t expecting him to get 10 years. It’s been adjourned a few times, so I am glad it is over now, I’m relieved.”
“It was horrible. I lost everything and I’m back living at my mother and fathers trying to rebuild my life, but I am just happy now that a line has been drawn under it. I’m just lucky to have my family and friends around me.”
– Court Reporting Scheme