Court hears man set his former partner’s car on fire in the car park of Cathedral

A 44- year- old man has been jailed for eight months after he pleaded guilty to a number off offences at a court on Monday morning including setting his former partner’s car on fire in the car park of Sligo Cathedral.

Chris Keaney, formerly of Millbank Glen, Dromahair appeared before a sitting of Donegal District Court having been remanded in custody from a Special Court held on Sunday evening in Carrick- on- Shannon where he appeared before Judge Kevin Kilrane.

The court heard Keaney had made threats against his former partner and that he set fire to her 151 registered car parked at the Cathedral Car Park on October 13th using firelighters.

Keaney also admitted breaching a barring order on the same date at Millbank Glen by phoning his former partner on two occasions and making threats to her.

The barring order had been issued on July 26th last in Carrick- on- Shannon Court.

The defendant’s former partner gave evidence in court on Monday

Keaney also pleaded guilty to assaulting Liam Keaney at the Swagman on October 14th.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor ( defending) pleaded that Keaney had a chronic alcohol problem and that he urgently needed help.

Judge Kilrane imposed a four months sentence on the assault charge with a concurrent four months on the criminal damage charge while Keaney was given a four months consecutive term for the barring order breach.

The Judge told the court that the message had to go out loud and clear to society that this type of behaviour would not be tolerated.