An application to relocate the case of a Chinese national accused of arson that caused over €3 million in damages to Longford Town has been refused.
Guo Zhong Chen of 9 Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, was arrested in August 2024 following a fire that swept through Grafton Court in the town two weeks earlier and impacted a wide range of local businesses.
Guo Zhong Chen, who is currently detained at Castlerea Prison, reappeared before Longford Circuit Court this afternoon.
In the charges faced, it's alleged the Chinese national and naturalised citizen of Ireland set a fire at Oyama Sushi Restaurant in Longford Town on the 28th of July.
He was also charged with criminal damage of a vehicle at Townparks in Longford on July 7th.
The defence had lodged a motion to change the venue of the trial away from Longford due to the interest in the case locally and the effect that could have on selecting a jury.
This afternoon, Senior Counsellor Michael O'Higgins presented an argument for the case to be transferred to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He explained it would be challenging to ensure people on the jury panel were not influenced by media coverage of the incident, or any personal association to the businesses impacted in Longford Town.
The Senior Counsellor also argued that, as his client is a non-national, he would be more likely to face bias in Longford than in Dublin, as it easier to maintain anonymity in a bigger area.
He stressed his stance was against 'nothing specific to the people of Longford,' that it was 'simply a question of urban-rural divide,' and that he would have recommended the same procedure in any other rural court.
Barrister-at-Law Shane Geraghty counter-argued that the empanelment of the jury was a meticulous process and that a fair trial could still be ensured in Longford, if the necessary measures are taken.
According to the barrister, these would include instructing the jury members to not discuss the case with anyone, base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court, and not allow local or national media to influence their judgment.
Mr. Geraghty also argued that many foreign nationals are on the register, which would ensure a diverse panel of jurors in the selection process.
In his deliberation, Judge Kenneth Connolly explained that the 'publicity argument' has become 'archaic' in today's media age, given that the digitisation of local newspapers and media has made local perspectives more widely accessible to national audiences.
Judge Connolly also explained there is a list of 17 local business proprietors from whom it might be expected to hear evidence in court, and that it is crucial that any person whose judgment may have been clouded by any personal knowledge of the case should abstain from serving in the jury.
He also stressed it would be 'unfair' to non-Dublin venues to sustain that non-nationals would suffer more bias in rural areas, also taking into account Chen has been living in Ireland for 25 years.
Judge Kenneth Connolly refused the application submitted by defence, remanding the 50-year-old back in custody at Castlerea prison to reappear for trial on the 28th of October in Longford Circuit Court.
In the meantime, a selection process for jurors who will act on the case's panel will commence in due course.
