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Decision On Location For Arson Trial For Westmeath Man Will Be Made In May

Friday, 14 February 2025 07:18

Guo Zhong Chen continues to be remanded in custody.

An application to move the trial of a man accused of a Longford arson incident, which caused €13m worth of damage and forced over a dozen businesses to close, is due to be made in May before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court.

Guo Zhong Chen (55), of 9 Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, is currently before the courts charged with the arson, which took place on August 9, 2024, and a separate incident of criminal damage to a black Landrover at Townparks, Longford, on July 7, 2024.

He appeared before Judge Connolly this afternoon, where it was heard the book of evidence is slowly being translated into mandarin and an audio format.

Of approximately 60 hours of CCTV, a montage of one hour and 30 minutes has been played for Mr Chen, with a necessity to play the remainder of the footage.

Mr Chen has said that he wishes to view the footage in its entirety and is requesting a jury trial, but does not wish to have that jury trial in Longford due to “adverse media attention”.

“We can’t do that until he’s seen all the footage and the book of evidence,” said Judge Connolly, noting that it could take up to four weeks for that to be done.

He granted an application to extend legal aid to a documentary junior counsel in an effort to expedite matters, “because otherwise he could be facing a lengthy time on remand”.

The legal aid was also extended for all translation purposes.

Judge Connolly remanded Mr Chen to May 8, 2025, stressing that any application to move the location of the trial should be brought on that day, with the state to be on three weeks' notice.

“After that, I won’t entertain it,” he concluded.

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