Laois man charged with causing €6,500 fire damage to his apartment
Portlaoise District Court
A MAN who, allegedly, caused over €6,500 fire damage to his own apartment came before last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
Jack Rouget (23) from Bianconi Way, Portlaoise was charged with criminal damage of Apartment 3 Block 2 Fieldbrook, Portlaoise on 13 May. He was also charged with trespass at Market Mews, Maryborough, Portlaoise on 22 March and with criminal damage of a car at the same location on the same date.
Mr Rouget was further charged with possessing a knife on the grounds of St Fintan’s Hospital, Portlaoise on 13 May and to possessing €20 worth of cannabis at Electric Picnic, Stradbally on 15 August last year.
Judge Susan Fay wanted to know who owned the house that the damage was allegedly caused to, to which garda sgt JJ Kirby replied: “It was his own. It was supplied by the Simon Community. It was mainly smoke damage that was caused. The damage was in excess of €6,500.” Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client is currently in custody in Cloverhill prison, where he is doing well, and was pleading guilty to the drug charge.
On this charge, Judge Susan Fay remanded Mr Rouget on continuing bail to 10 November and asked that he undergo a community service assessment in the meantime.
Regarding the other charges, she adjourned them to 21 July for a plea or to set a date for a full hearing into the cases.
