A co Monaghan woman who alleged she was sexually abused by a restaurant owner and that he owed her wages made two attempts within four days to set fire to his premises and his car.
Frances Flannagan (23), of Lurganmore, Castleblayney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having petrol with intent to damage property on December 14th and December 18th, 1997. Flannagan, who had an address at Hardwicke Place, Dublin, at the time, was remanded in custody for sentence on April 23rd by Judge Frank O'Donnell.
Garda Con Dennehy told Mr Brendan Mulhall, prosecuting, that Flannagan entered Uncle B's Chinese restaurant on Lower Dorset Street, Dublin, at 11.30 p.m. with a beer bottle filled with petrol. She ignited a tissue which was stuck to the top of the bottle. Restaurant owner Mr Morris Wong rushed to her, blew the flame out and took the bottle. Flannagan, later arrested, alleged she was owed wages by Mr Wong.
Garda Dennehy said four days later, on December 18th, 1997, Flannagan returned to the restaurant and poured paint and petrol on Mr Wong's car to set it alight. Again, she did not succeed and was arrested.
Flannagan told gardai the reason she attempted to burn the car was due to sexual abuse she had suffered when employed by Mr Wong.
Garda Dennehy said Flannagan has no previous convictions and had moved back to Co Monaghan to seek employment. He agreed with Mr Paul McDermott, defending, that Flannagan was very stressed during the encounters with her former employer. She had spent time at a psychiatric hospital in Co Monaghan. He agreed that she was in need of help.
Mr McDermott asked Judge O'Donnell to take into account that the defendant had a genuine psychiatric problem and an extensive background of treatment of an acute kind.
Judge O'Donnell said the case would warrant a very severe sentence. However, it was premature to do anything without a full psychiatric report.