Alleged Kildare teen arsonists sent for trial
The fire at Rathasker Stud
THREE teens who allegedly set fire to a stud farm just outside of Naas causing “nearly €200,000 of damage” were sent forward for trial to the circuit court at a hearing in Naas District Court last week.
The court heard how a fire was deliberately set at Rathasker Stud on Rathasker Road just south of Naas at around 6pm on 7 February, 2025 which burned for nine hours, consuming 250 straw bales, 200 hay bales, an Ivor Williams horse box and three sheds, causing €190,000 of damage.
At the time the Fire Brigade had to draw water from the nearby canal to fight the fire, but fortunately the alarm was raised quickly and there were no injuries to either human or horse during the conflagration.
Two neighbours came to the scene with machines to drag the burning bales out of the sheds and another to stack them at a safe distance in a field to let them burn off. However, gardaí were quickly on the scene, and found a “definite line of enquiry” promptly.
“A number of youths were seen at the scene, and arrested shortly after,” explained Sergeant Mary Meade for the prosecution.
Defending solicitor David Powderley reminded the court that reporting restrictions concerning their names and addresses were in place.
“Yes, but the press are allowed to report on the general descriptions,” Judge Desmond Zaidan replied.
The three youths, who are all between 14 and 15 years old with Kildare addresses, were in court for their books of evidence. Once done, the judge sent all three forward to face trial at the present sittings of Naas Circuit Court which began on 13 January.
