A CARPENTER beat up his girlfriend and burned her house down after she ended their relationship.
Owen Grant could not accept seeing his ex-partner Michelle Bradley with another man after they broke up following an eight-year relationship.
Ms Bradley, from Dunmore, Carrigans, Co Donegal, had changed the lock on her house which she had been sharing with Grant.
On September 11th, 2009, Grant turned up at the house and demanded the keys for her BMW car, which he had claimed was his. He grabbed the keys, pushed her to the ground and kicked her in the side. That evening, Grant (44), broke into Ms Bradley’s home and set fire to four chairs, and the house burned to the ground.
Letterkenny Circuit Court heard Grant, Imlick Villas, Carrigans, sought mental health service treatment after the attack and spent seven weeks in care.
Judge John O’Hagan said he did not accept Grant had any great mental health issues. “He’s depressed – so? – lots of people are depressed. There is no excuse for what he did.” He took the common assault into account in sentencing Grant to 2½ years in prison for the arson attack. He ordered that Grant never have contact with his former girlfriend.