A restaurant-owner accused of an arson attack, which caused in the region of €3m worth of damage to several businesses in the Grafton Court area of Longford town last year, has had an application to have his trial moved to a Dublin court refused.
Michael O’Higgins SC brought the application before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court this afternoon on behalf of Guo Zhong Chen (50), of 9 Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, who has been in custody since August of last year.
The Chinese national, who has been living in Ireland since 2000, was charged with criminal damage by arson at Grafton Court, Longford, on July 28, 2024, and a separate incident of criminal damage to a Land Rover at Townparks, Longford, on July 7, 2024.
Mr O’Higgins told the court that the case has received “significant media coverage” locally and nationally, citing a number of articles, which covered the case in detail.
This coverage, he said, was circulated “widely within the locale in which the trial is scheduled to take place”, including details of how Mr Chen tried to “evade arrest” for the alleged crimes by jumping from a balcony in his underwear.
Also read: Significant evidence as two doctors and secretary accused of over 130 Longford thefts
Mr O’Higgins also noted that the book of evidence contained a large list of witnesses, including some who were business owners in the area affected by the fire.
“If you lived in Longford, you might see this as a strike against the commercial heart of the town, whether you worked there or used any of the businesses there – you would be entitled to resent an attack of this sort,” said Mr O’Higgins.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Mr Chen is a foreign national, which he said “won’t improve his situation”.
This was a perception, “not necessarily targeted at the people of Longford”, Mr O’Higgins stressed, adding that “Dublin is a very big city, and there is a greater degree of anonymity, so it’s less personal”.
Also read: Man caught shoplifting in Longford was ‘trying to impress new girlfriend’
Shane Geraghty BL, for the state, pointed out that there are “very clear safeguards that this court can implement to ensure a fair trial”, including a list of witnesses which can be scrutinised by both the state and the defence.
He stressed that the court “must assume juries don’t ignore the directions of the trial judge” and that they “do abide by oath”, so there is “no concern he will not receive a fair trial”.
Judge Connolly, having heard the basis for the application, accepted that the case has “no doubt received certain publicity”, both locally and nationally.
“Perhaps that argument is becoming somewhat archaic in the current media situation,” he said, adding that “in the olden days”, it was very true that “today’s news is tomorrow’s fish ‘n’ chips wrapping”.
“In times gone by, local media was always in print and a much larger number of locals would read the local publication. That world has changed fundamentally,” he said.
“Almost all of us read a mixture of media now, and all media is available in all areas, so there’s a greater interest in local stories.”
He stressed that, in every trial, the judge would have to give warnings to potential jurors not to carry out independent research and to base their deliberations solely on the evidence heard in court.
He said he has a list of 17 business proprietors from the Grafton Court complex from which evidence may be heard, and that jurors who are attached to those witnesses will be asked not to serve.
“It is the duty of the court to eradicate any threat and instruct the jury properly that, if they are in any way associated with the case, they must not serve,” he said.
“I do accept it might be a more difficult empanelment. I don’t believe there’s any evidence that anyone would serve that ought not to do so.”
Also read: Teen pleads guilty to assault causing serious harm to Longford father
He also said it would be “unfair and disrespectful to any non-Dublin court to suggest someone would receive bias for being a non-national”, considering Mr Chen has been living in the country for 25 years.
Furthermore, he pointed out that, of the 17 businesses listed in a document furnished to the court, an estimated 12 were “probably not of Irish origin”, which shows the “cultural dynamic of this county”.
“Accordingly, whilst I do accept jury empanelment may be difficult, I do not believe it will be an impossibility,” he said.
For that reason, he refused the application to transfer the matter to Dublin and directed the trial be retained in Longford.
He directed a jury panel document be made available for the defence to scrutinise ahead of jury selection.
Mr Chen has received half of the book of evidence, translated and in audio format on a USB stick, the court heard, and Judge Connolly made an order that the governor of Castlerea Prison facilitate the provision of the other half of the book on a USB, as well as the means to listen to the content.
The trial is expected to take approximately three weeks, the court heard, with 71 witnesses in the book of evidence and a large amount of CCTV footage.
Mr Chen has been remanded in custody to October 28, 2025.
