A man will be sentenced early next year after admitting to arson at St Michan’s Church in Dublin last June in which mummified remains were damaged.
Cristian Topiter (39) of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, on Friday appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court having been sent forward from the District Court on a signed guilty plea.
Topiter affirmed his guilty plea to a charge that he committed arson at St Michan’s Church on June 11th last and damaged, by fire, mummified remains.
Judge Orla Crowe initially adjourned the case for sentence on March 24th next. Oisín Clarke, defending, told the court that Topiter is anxious to be sentenced as soon as possible and wishes to be sentenced by video link.
Search and rescue dogs: ‘They could be a person’s last hope of survival’
Trevor Deely, Philip Cairns and other missing-person cases will not be upgraded to murder
Woman went without food for days as husband refuses to give money for essentials, court told
WRC finds in favour of dismissed employee who endured ‘deplorable’ treatment from betting company
Having considered the defence’s application, Judge Crowe agreed to adjourn the case for sentence to February 20th next.
She remanded Topiter in continuing custody until that date and granted a defence application for him to be sentenced by video link from Cloverhill Prison.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis