A MAN who started a fire in which an elderly nun died was given her prayer book and rosary beads by her order, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday. The sentencing of John Hevey, a handyman, was adjourned to January 17th next year.
Sister Teresa Roche (70), of the order of Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, died on May 2nd last year, four days after the fire.
Hevey is to be supervised by the dead nun's order, by priests of the Vincentian Order, by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and by the Probation and Welfare Service until his next court appearance.
Judge Cyril Kelly also directed that Hevey continue weekly attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous. Hevey has been in custody since April last and had served the equivalent of more than a year's imprisonment.
Judge Kelly said one of the most striking aspects of the case was the support offered to Hevey by the community to which Sister Teresa belonged. They had visited him in prison and given him her prayer book and rosary beads. The order and her own sister also accepted that Sister Teresa's death was not the result of a malicious act.
The case against him had been sympathetically and caringly presented by Det Sgt Walter Kilcullen and by Mr Kenneth Mills SC (with Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh) prosecuting.
Hevey (50), South Circular Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Sister Teresa who died on May 2nd, 1995, as a result of the fire at St Enda's National School, Whitefriar Street. He also admitted committing criminal damage by arson to the school on April 28th, 1995.
Det Sgt Kilcullen said Hevey had expected to be paid £100 for painting and decorating work at the Friendship Club in the school hall which he had been attending for some time. He was paid only £20 and complained to one of the priests, who referred him back to the manager of the club. He did not get extra money.
In a "crazy act of madness" while drunk, Hevey started the fire about 3.30 pm. He bought petrol, splashed it on furniture and set the building alight. The club was not open and Hevey could not have known that Sister Teresa and other people were there, Det Sgt Kilcullen said.
Members of Dublin Fire Brigade found the unconscious nun in the debris and she was brought to hospital. Sister Teresa died four days later as a result of bronchial pneumonia brought on by smoke inhalation.
Hevey was suspected and the next morning gardai saw him in the St Stephen's Green area. He approached them and said: "I'm the man you are looking for".
Hevey was a welder by trade. He had been an alcoholic for a number of years and was separated from his wife. Before the offence, he had visited her in Liverpool and had planned to return.
Mr Gregory Murphy SC (with Mr Padraig Dwyer), defending, said a letter Hevey wrote to his wife from custody and before the victim's death showed genuine remorse. He wrote a second letter to the victim's sister and she replied accepting Hevey had not intended to kill anyone.
Mr Murphy said the report indicated that if Hevey could conquer his alcohol problem he was unlikely to concern the courts again. He suggested the court might consider adjourning sentence for one year to give Hevey the opportunity to prove he could be a good citizen.
Judge Kelly thanked the prosecuting and defence counsel for the manner in which they had handled a tragic case.
He noted also that Hevey had been described as a model prisoner. He had pleaded guilty and was genuinely remorseful. The court had to be swayed by the enormous amount of support.