In a bizarre and troubling case that came before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in early 2026, 68-year-old Colm Dowling from Cypress Avenue, Brookwood, Dublin 16, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage.
The incidents, which took place on January 11 last year, involved an unsuccessful attempt to set a serving garda’s personal car on fire using vegetable oil as an accelerant, alongside causing over €7,000 in damage to gates at a commercial premises in the Rathfarnham area.
The attempted arson on the garda’s car was particularly unusual. A garda witness told the court that the injured party discovered vegetable oil poured across the windscreen, with charred tissue stuffed under the damaged wiper blade. Investigators later recovered a lighter and a bottle of vegetable oil nearby.
As one officer dryly noted during proceedings, “Vegetable oil is not a suitable accelerant.” The damage was limited to €76 worth of harm to the front windscreen wipers, but the intent behind the act raised serious concerns, especially given Dowling’s history of similar offences.
CCTV Evidence and Witness Accounts
The case against Dowling was built largely on solid CCTV footage and witness observations. One resident spotted Dowling on their home security camera walking toward the injured party’s house at approximately 5:45 a.m., carrying a bottle. Just three minutes later, at 5:48 a.m., he was seen returning empty-handed.
Another witness reported seeing him carrying tissue paper, which immediately raised suspicions given the early hour and unusual items. These observations, combined with forensic evidence from the scene, left little doubt about his involvement in the early-morning incident.
The second charge stemmed from a separate act of criminal damage at a commercial premises. Dowling was captured on business CCTV making repeated attempts to climb over the gates, first unsuccessfully on foot, then returning with a traffic cone in a failed effort to gain entry.
Minutes later, he arrived in a white Ford van and repeatedly rammed the vehicle into the gates in an attempt to force them open. During this reckless manoeuvre, the front registration plate partially broke off and fell into the yard, along with the driver’s side wing mirror. The total damage to the gates and a pillar amounted to €7,200.
Remarkably, Dowling returned to the scene the following morning, using a long pole to retrieve the broken registration plate that the business owner had already photographed as evidence. Gardaí later visited his home, where they observed the same white Ford van parked outside—missing its wing mirror and part of the front plate, with visible paint transfer matching the damaged gates. This chain of events provided overwhelming proof of his culpability in both incidents.
Background of Previous Convictions and Personal Struggles
Dowling’s criminal history weighed heavily during sentencing. He has eight previous convictions, including four for arson and two for harassment. In 2022, he received a three-year sentence with the final 20 months suspended—a period during which the latest offences occurred, just 10 months after his release.
Defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC emphasized that the car incident was random and occurred while Dowling was intoxicated, stressing it was not targeted because the victim was a member of An Garda Síochána.
The court heard details of Dowling’s personal difficulties. He suffers from severe alcoholism, major depressive disorder, and a long history of depression and anxiety.
A psychological report submitted to the judge highlighted these issues, noting that Dowling is not a daily drinker but experiences long periods of sobriety followed by severe relapses. His problems date back to around 2015, compounded by the tragic death of his brother in 2018. Dowling has some work history but has more recently relied on disability allowance.
Sentencing Considerations and Outcome
Defence submissions focused on Dowling’s remorse, early guilty pleas, a letter of apology, and small contributions to Alcoholics Anonymous and Focus Ireland as genuine signs of regret. His partner attended court to support him despite her own health issues. Since January last year, Dowling has been in custody, finding prison challenging but engaging positively by working in the prison gardens and accessing psychological supports.
Judge Jonathan Dunphy took into account the victim impact statement from the garda, who felt targeted and has since moved away. While accepting the car incident was not targeted, the judge highlighted a “continuous unjustified grievance” toward the owner of the commercial property, who had been an injured party in some of Dowling’s prior offences. This made the second incident particularly aggravating.
The judge noted that Dowling’s moral culpability was reduced due to his mental health conditions. Recent time in custody appeared to have helped him recognize the need to better manage his alcoholism and depression to avoid future offending. On January 1, 2026, Judge Dunphy imposed a total sentence of two years imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions. These include two years’ supervision by the Probation Services, compliance with any referrals (including residential treatment), and a two-year peace bond specifically for the criminal damage to the garda’s car. Dowling was also ordered to pay €76 within 28 days of release to cover the wiper damage.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of criminal damage and arson attempts, even when the methods are as ineffective as vegetable oil. It also highlights the challenges faced by individuals dealing with addiction and mental health issues, and the importance of rehabilitation alongside punishment in the Irish justice system.
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