Man jailed over arson attack on Flyefit gym in north Dublin

A man has been jailed for 6½ years for burning down a Flyefit gym in north Dublin which resulted in almost €2 million of damage and lost earnings.

Mark Harte (26) said he carried out the arson attack in July 2016 for a criminal gang he had built up a drug debt to because of his cocaine use.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard a car was driven through the front doors of the gym and stooped at the security turnstiles inside the doors.

Harte had left the car before this happened and was holding a container. CCTV footage played to the court showed a bright flash of light before the car went up on fire. Judge Pauline Codd said the footage was chilling and sinister.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said the crime was completely out of character and his client deeply regrets the harm he caused. He said his client made sure there were no individuals in the vicinity of the car at the time.

Counsel said Harte went to door of the gym to make sure there was nobody there and then gave a sign to the driver of the car.

Det Garda Neill Plunkett said he believed that Harte was saying ‘the coast is clear’ before they drove the car in.

Frightening

Judge Codd said that two employees were in the building and had to leave. She said they had a frightening experience.

Harte was linked to the scene from DNA found on white latex gloves found nearby. A neighbour told gardaí­about a suspicious car that had been parked in the area and provided them with a photograph taken on his mobile phone.

This car was linked to Harte and he was arrested at his home on Collins Avenue in Donnycarney. He pleaded guilty to arson at Flyefit gym, Coolock on July 25th, 2016.

The court heard that the owners of the building, Irish Life, set the costs of damage repairs at €316,000 and the loss of rent at €85,000. Flyefit put the cost of damage to equipment at €915,000 and the loss of business at €569,000.

Judge Codd set a headline sentence of 11 years but reduced this to nine years after noting evidence that Harte was petrified because of a drug debt and was worried for the safety of his family.

She also noted he was assessed as being at a low risk of re-offending. She said he had made good progress in drug treatment and came from a good family

The judge suspended the final two and a half years on condition he attend addiction counselling. The sentence is backdated to last September.