Man admits arson and attempted arson on Kilkenny pub

A man with eighty previous convictions who admitted arson and attempted arson at a North Kilkenny pub had his case adjourned for finalisation at Kilkenny Circuit Court.

Stephen Kelly, 21 Church Avenue, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny admitted the offences which took place at The Corner Bar in Castlecomer on February 21, 2025.

Garda Mark Nolan of Kilkenny Garda Station told the court that Stephen Kelly and a friend had been on the premises earlier in the night.

The garda told the court that there was ‘some difficulty’ and the defendant was asked to leave by the publican and he did so.

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Later that night Stephen Kelly returned to the pub. Gda Nolan outlined how the defendant was seen approaching the front door on CCTV and that he face was ‘partially covered’.

Mr Kelly was observed pouring petrol from a plastic container under the door and setting it alight and the garda added that ‘it went up like a firebomb’. A barman on the premises was able to put out the fire with an extinguisher. A number of customers were in the premises at the time of the incident, which took place at approximately 10pm and caused a small amount of damage to a door.

Bolted from inside

Gardaí went to the location and took the CCTV and left the scene satisfied that the fire was out. Gda Nolan told the court that the two doors from the pub leading out onto the street were closed at the time of the incident and that one of the doors had been bolted from the inside by Stephen Kelly, who was outside the premises and then poured the petrol under the door.

A scenes of crime garda team also attended the scene.

The publican informed gardaí that he had refused two individuals earlier that day, one of whom was Stephen Kelly, due to intoxication.

Stephen Kelly was also identified on CCTV by gardaí.

Gda Nolan also outlined a second incident, which took place at the pub at approximately 2.30am. In this incident Stephen Kelly’s face was partially covered and had a small silver bar in his possession. Mr Kelly broke a number of windows and squeezed petrol in through the windows and onto the blinds, setting them on fire. A passerby saw the fire and alerted the owner and gardaí.

The court heard that gardaí attended the scene within a few minutes of the second fire and had a concern that Stephen Kelly might have been involved in the incident and tried to intercept him on his way home.

Gardaí went to the address where Mr Kelly was residing and from the rear laneway observed Stephen Kelly in the back yard. There was also a large flame and certain items were being burned. Gardaí, who were aware of what Mr Kelly was wearing earlier in the evening went into the house and removed a black jumper and a white tee-shirt. Gda Nolan also told the court that gardaí believed that evidence of clothing was being burned.

Armed response unit

The armed response unit were called in and the house was nominated a crime scene. Mr Kelly wouldn’t come out of the house and was in the kitchen. Gardaí met with the mother of the defendant, Kathleen Kelly, who opened the door.

The armed response unit called for the defendant to come out of the house. At 3.25am Stephen Kelly exited the house and was arrested.

At the back of the house gardaí found the remnants of a recent fire and were able to obtain some items and they also found a petrol can in a shed at the back of the house.

A plastic water bottle was also found in to a nearby churchyard which contained petrol and gardaí believed that it was discarded by Stephen Kelly on his route from the pub to his house.

Gda Nolan said that the fire in the second incident was ‘more significant’.

“Some furniture and drapes were on fire and the fire brigade had to put out the fire,” he said adding that in the first incident there were more than ten patrons and staff on the premises at the time.

Gda Nolan also said that the silver bar that was involved in the second incident was found in a shed at the back of the house, where the defendant was residing at the time.

A victim impact statement the publican of The Corner Bar, James O’Loughlin, was read into the court by Gda Nolan.

“On the night of February 21, 2025, my premises was set on fire by Stephen Kelly. I had about ten local people in the pub at the time and this individual sought fit to sneak up to my pub, shut the doors from the outside and pour petrol under the door and set it alight while the customers were still inside.
quick thinking

“Only for the quick thinking of my young barman grabbing an extinguisher and putting out the fire quickly, it could have ended up been a more horrific outcome.

“Stephen Kelly not content with the damage he had caused came back a few hours later, smashed the windows of my pub and set it on fire again. Again only for the luck of having a passerby see the flames is what saved my pub.”

There is a B and B above the pub which was unoccupied on the night in question.

“I would usually have customers staying in the B and B upstairs, but thankfully on this night it was empty,” he added.

“Many of my usual customers have not returned to the pub since this happened out of fear and probably will never return. I worked my whole life abroad to save money to buy my pub, which I did five years ago. It has cost me around €10,000 to fix the place up as I didn’t go through my insurance,” he said.

“I did nothing to deserve this and my customers certainly didn’t deserve this,”he added.

Stephen Kelly has eighty previous convictions including convictions under The Road Traffic Act and for theft, criminal damage, drugs, burglary, public order, robbery, aggravated burglary, affray and assault.

The defendant was on bail at the time of the offence.

Kathleen Leader BL said that her client is 36 years old and is from Castlecomer and was living with his parents prior to going into custody in February 2025.

“The Corner House is in close proximity to where Stephen Kelly was living at the time, around 6000 metres,” she said adding that on the night in question the gardaí went to Stephen Kelly’s House where he was residing at the time, which was across from the garda station.

“He was arrested and brought to Kilkenny Garda Station at 4.05am and was deemed unsuitable for interview until 11am the next day.”

Ms Leader said that her client’s parents and girlfriend were in court and ‘continue to support him’.

“He left school at 16 and did a Youthreach course and worked from time to time in construction,” she said adding that her client ‘lashes out at anyone who presents as a figure of authority when intoxicated.”

Ms Leader outlined to the court that on the date in question Mr Kelly had received some bad night and had been drinking and had taken tablets.

“He went into the bar and was refused due to his level of intoxication. The fire did not endanger any lives in the second incident,” said Ms Leader adding that her client’s crimes were ‘easily detectable’ and that there was ‘no huge sophistication in his getaway’.

“Stephen Kelly has issues with self-control when he has taken intoxicants.”

“He wants to lead a sober life when he is released from custody. He has the support of his parents and girlfriend and has somewhere to live,” she added.

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin adjourned the matters to Kilkenny Circuit Court on May 5 for finalisation.