Woman pleads guilty to arson, manslaughter of two men

A 29-year-old woman has been remanded in custody after she pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of two men in an arson attack on a flat in North Cork just over two years ago.

Rachel Crawshaw pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of John Palmer (37) and Greg Lonergan (36), at Granary Court, St Joseph's Road, Mallow between March 12th and March 13th 2014.

She also pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to committing arson at Granary Court, St Joseph's Road, Mallow contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1991 on the same occasion.

Defence counsel, Tom Creed SC, applied for an adjournment to allow the preparation of a probation report on his client whom he told the court had had a difficulty with drugs in her life.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin granted the application and adjourned sentencing until June 9th to allow time for the preparation report on Ms Crawshaw whose address was given as no fixed abode.

Judge O’Donnabháin remanded Ms Crawshaw in custody until June 9th and requested the preparation of victim impact reports from the families of Mr Palmer and Mr Lonergan.

Det Sgt Michael Corbett had previously given evidence of arrest, charge and caution at Mallow District Court and said that he arrested Ms Crawshaw at Cork Airport on February 22nd, 2016.

He told Judge Brian Sheridan at Mallow District Court that Ms Crawshaw had made no reply to any of the three charges when they were put to her following caution after her arrest.

Both Mr Palmer and Mr Lonergan were recovered from the rented apartment at Granary Court by firefighters but were pronounced dead at the scene by a local GP.

A third man, Mr Palmer’s twin brother Chris, was rescued from the building and taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

The Palmer twins were originally from Tymon North in Tallaght in Dublin while Mr Lonergan had lived at a number of locations in Cork city and county prior to moving to Mallow.