A Chinese national accused of an act of arson that caused over €3 million in damages to Longford Town will seek to have his criminal trial moved to a different court today.
Guo Zhong Chen, of 9 Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar was arrested in August 2024 following the fire that swept through Grafton Court in the town two weeks earlier.
It's alleged that the Chinese national and naturalised citizen of Ireland set a fire at Oyama Sushi in Longford Town on the 28th of July.
He was further charged with criminal damage in relation to an incident on a separate date to the fire.
That charge refers to the alleged damage of a vehicle at Townparks in Longford on July 7.
The Mullingar businessman was served with a book of Evidence consisting of 50 witness statements and 60 hours of CCTV footage earlier this year.
The defence previously indicated that they would lodge a motion to change the venue of any trial away from Longford due to the interest in the case locally and the effect that could have on selecting a jury.
That motion will come before Judge Kenneth Connolly this morning, and if successful could see the criminal trial take place in Mullingar, Athlone or Dublin.
