A Dublin girl (11) was set ablaze, suffering horrific burns when four men broke into a relative’s home and threw a petrol bomb in September 2010.
Michaela Maughan was visiting the house in Longford town with her brother and grandmother when the attack took place.
Longford Circuit Criminal Court was told the three visitors and the family, who lived at the house at Pauric Colum Heights in Longford, were innocent victims.
Judge Tony Hunt was yesterday advised by prosecuting counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley that Martin Nevin (23), unemployed and originally from Springlawn, Longford, had pleaded guilty in March to damaging the property of Ann Joyce on September 30th, 2010, intending to damage it and endangering the life of Michaela Maughan.
Insp Padraic Jones said Ms Joyce was at home with members of her family that night when four men carrying a baseball bat approached the house and smashed the windows. A petrol bomb was thrown into the kitchen where Michaela was sitting. The child was immediately set on fire.
The judge remanded Nevin in custody and adjourned the case.