Mayo man found guilty of arson to ex-fiance's home

A CASTLEBAR man who was accused of lighting a petrol bomb outside his former fiancee's home while she was alone with her three young children was convicted of arson following a four day trial.

Eamon Maughan Jnr (28) of 21 Castlegrove, Castlebar appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he was convicted by a jury of arson to the home of his former fiance Ellen Maughan (28) at 36 Castlegrove, Castlebar on October 29, 2025.

The trial heard that a fairy liquid bottle filled with petrol and containing a black cloth was set on fire outside Ellen Maughan's home at around 3am on the morning of October 29, 2025.

In her evidence to the court, Mrs Maughan explained that she was engaged to be married to the defendant but she broke up with him seven or eight years previous. She said that while she has since married and has three young children, she claimed that Eamon Maughan was 'still recovering from it'.

She told the jury that she was awoken at around 3am by two loud bangs and claimed she saw Eamon Maughan outside when she pulled back the curtain. She said he was wearing a navy tracksuit and dark runners.

She said when she ran downstairs, she opened the front door which was on fire and claimed the hall was engulfed in smoke and flames.

The trial heard that Mrs Maughan's three children who were under five at the time came down the stairs and she had to hold them back as she tried to put out the fire using pots filled with water.

Mr Maughan denied the charge and also denied a second charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mrs Maughan at 7am on October 29, 2025.

Mrs Maughan said her husband was not in the house at the time as he was at a family member's house following a funeral and gardaí brought her and her children to the house after the fire.

She claimed that when they returned to their own home at 7am, Eamon Maughan was outside their home and started shouting abuse and wanted her husband Michael to fight him. She claimed he was intoxicated on drink and drugs and that he shouted he would burn them out of it.

When cross examined by Fergal McMorrow, counsel for Mr Maughan, Mrs Maughan said she was terrified and claimed that the defendant tried to murder her and her children.

Mr McMorrow asked Mrs Maughan if she was so terrified, why didn't she ensure her children were out of the house. She replied that she was not going to leave them outside on their own at 3am while she tried to put out the fire.

Mr McMorrow also questioned Mrs Maughan as to why she did not video Mr Maughan making threats against her but she replied her first thought was to ensure her children were in the house and out of danger. She added she rang 999 after going in the house.

Mr McMorrow accused Mrs Maughan of lying to the jury and claimed that her story had grown more legs during her evidence. However, she replied she had no reason to lie or be bitter and reiterated her claim that she saw Eamon Maughan try to petrol bomb her home.

The trial also heard evidence from Michael Maughan who claimed he phoned Eamon Maughan after his wife claimed he had petrol bombed their house. He claimed he asked him why he did this and alleged he replied to him 'You did me a favour and I did you a favour'. The court was not informed what was meant by this.

The court also heard that not long following the fire, Mrs Maughan received a phone call from the defendant's mother.

Mr Maughan was arrested at 2.30pm on October 29 and when interviewed, he denied the accusations against him and claimed he had been drinking in Sully's pub all night and afterwards went to his father's home.

The trial heard that gardaí recovered two pairs of tracksuits belonging to the defendant in the washing machine of the defendant's mother's home when it was searched on October 29.

In his address to the jury, Mr Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution said that while the fire was not the 'Great Fire of London' and Mrs Maughan may have exaggerated it, it was accepted that an accelerant was used in a bottle and the front of the house was burnt.

Mr McMorrow said that there were inconsistencies in the evidence and the account of Mrs Maughan was exaggerated.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour and recorded a guilty verdict in relation to the charge of arson and not guilty in relation to the charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

Following the guilty verdict, Judge Eoin Garavan was informed that Mr Maughan is currently in custody after his bail was revoked last December.

Mr McMorrow requested that sentencing be adjourned to allow for the preparation of a probation report and a psychological report.

Judge Garavan agreed and remanded Mr Maughan in custody until March 1 next for sentencing.