A man has pleaded guilty of the arson that allegedly caused over €3 million in damage to Longford town last year.
Chinese national, Guo (pron: G-wow) Zhong (pron: jong) Chen of 9 Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, was due to go on trial for the offence this week.
The fire at Grafton Court in Longford town in July of last year led to the temporary closure of a number of local businesses.
Mr Chen, a Chinese national and naturalised citizen of Ireland, was arrested in August and charged with starting the fire at Oyama Sushi Restaurant on the 28th of July.
He was also charged with criminal damage of a vehicle at Townparks in Longford on July 7th.
Mr Chen was due to go on trial in Longford later this week.
However, during a sitting of Longford Circuit Court this afternoon, he pled guilty, through his interpreter, to one count of arson.
The charge of criminal damage will be taken into consideration when Mr Chen is sentenced.
The 56-year-old has been detained at Castlerea Prison since his arrest and the court was issued with a favourable report of his conduct while there.
It said he had been an 'enhanced prisoner' since October 2024, and his general behaviour is 'exceptional'.
Mr Chen's defence counsel Luke O'Higgins told the court he'd been working six days a week in the prison kitchen while in custody.
He also said Mr Chen had indicated his intention to plead guilty shortly after receiving a translated version of the book of evidence.
Judge Kenneth Connolly accepted that submission and noted the plea as an early plea of guilt.
He said the plea was very welcome due to the length of time a trial would have taken.
Judge Connolly directed a probation report and an updated governor's report, but said he would not be directing an assessment for suitability for community service, due to the severity of the damage done.
Chen will reappear before Longford Circuit Court on 3 February 2026 for sentence and was remanded in custody until that date.
