Teen given bail despite Garda objection

AN 18-year-old male who is accused of arson and threatening to burn down a woman’s house was granted bail, despite strong objections from gardaí.
Nathan Ginty of Carrowbeg, Westport appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he was due to be sentenced for a number of offences which he pleaded guilty to in January. The offences include arson when he set fire to a site dumper in Westport on November, 2015; threatening to damage property on July 31, 2016, when he threatened to burn down the home of a woman in Pollathomas; and the unauthorised taking of a car from a Westport car park in February, 2016.
The offences were committed when Mr Ginty was a minor, and he was represented in court by three barristers who applied for him to be released on bail. Ms Ann-Marie Courell, one of his representatives, asked for matters to be finalised in October, when Mr Ginty could arrange employment upon his release.
Detective Garda Denis Egan objected to the application, saying he believed the defendant would come to the attention of the gardaí sooner rather than later if released. Mr Ginty also faces charges in the District Court.
Det Garda Egan agreed that peer pressure had contributed to Ginty’s bad behaviour. He is currently serving a two-month sentence for criminal damage committed in Dublin.
Judge Rory McCabe was informed that Mr Ginty was very mechanically minded and wanted to get a job. His legal representatives said their client was agreeable to a curfew and to signing on daily at Westport Garda station.
Judge McCabe agreed to grant Circuit Court bail to Mr Ginty and adjourned sentencing until October 4.