A 56-year-old man has pleaded guilty to an incident of arson, which caused €3m worth of damage to a prominent shopping street in Longford town in July last year.
Guo Zhong Chen, with an address at Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court this afternoon, where he said via an interpreter, "I plead guilty".
The plea was entered to count two on the indictment, arson contrary to section 2(1) and 2(4) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991, on a full facts basis.
A count of criminal damage will be taken into consideration when Mr Chen is sentenced.
The incident occurred on 28 July 2024, in the Grafton Court Complex of Longford town, when a blaze forced the closure of over a dozen businesses, and caused €3m worth of damage.
The criminal damage charge related to a Land Rover at Townparks, Longford, on 7 July 2024.
Mr Luke O'Higgins BL, for Chen, submitted to the court that the plea was made in short order after the book of evidence was translated to mandarin and subsequently translated to an audio format due to Chen's literacy difficulties.
Judge Connolly accepted that submission and noted the plea as an early plea of guilt.
"For the purpose of sentence, it's not at all lost on me how long this matter would have taken had it gone to trial," he said, noting the three weeks that would have been set aside as "a considerable amount of time", with a need for an interpreter.
"The plea is very welcome," he said.
A report furnished to the court today stated Chen has been "an enhanced prisoner" since October 2024, and his general behaviour is "exceptional".
He is currently working in the main kitchen of the prison and his experience in a busy kitchen allows him to train others to work in the canteen.
Judge Connolly directed a probation report and an updated governor's report, but stated he will not be directing an assessment for suitability for community service in this case, due to the severity of the damage done.
"It is a very significant matter," he said.
Chen will reappear before Longford Circuit Court on 3 February 2026 for sentence and was remanded in custody until that date.
