'I don't go around doing criminal damage' - man found not guilty of setting car on fire in Waterford
The car was found in flames on John's Lane.
A jury of six men and six women found a man not guilty of setting fire to a parked car in Waterford City. John Sprice, of 93 Priory Lawn, Ballybeg, Waterford, was accused of setting fire to a black Renault car on John's Lane in the early hours of May 8, 2023.
Mr Sprice (39) pleaded not guilty to the charge and a trial was held at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.
He was represented by defence barrister Gareth Hayden BL under the instruction of solicitor Ken Cunningham. Niall Storan BL acted as prosecuting counsel on behalf of the State. Judge Eugene O'Kelly presided over the trial.
The jury heard from several prosecution witnesses about the incident. A security guard from the Market Bar in the Apple Market explained how after finishing work, he walked towards his own car parked behind Revolution Bar on John's Lane at around 1.30am. While walking, he saw what he thought was a "flickering light" from a car parked up ahead of him.
He said: "I didn't think much of it."
When he was 15 metres away from the car, he saw a man standing next to the car.
He explained: "He walked up towards me, said: 'It wasn't me' and ran in the direction I was coming from."
The security guard then saw a 'small fire' in the passenger seat of the parked car. When he got closer, he saw that the passenger window had been smashed and what looked like a large stone in the seat. He quickly managed to put out the fire and called the Gardaí.
The security guard believed the man in the alley to be John Sprice, having interacted with him through his role at Market Bar. He said: "I had seen him when I refused him entry to the Market Bar."
The witness looked up Mr Sprice's profile picture on Facebook to confirm his suspicion.
"Did you keep the Facebook photo," asked Mr Hayden. "No," replied the witness.
Garda Aoife O'Gorman attended the crime scene at 1.45am. She said the window had been completely smashed and there were no items found in the glovebox. She further explained that no forensic evidence or fingerprints were recovered and that the car was a 'complete write-off'. The owner of the car was paid €3,250 from his insurance.
Mr Sprice was interviewed by Detective Garda Jane Cotter on September 5, 2023, where he denied any suggestion of involvement in the arson. He said to Garda Cotter: "I don't go around doing criminal damage to people's property."
When asked about getting kicked out of the Market Bar, he commented: "There's a member of staff who doesn't like me.
"I've been in altercations and got kicked out. I'm saying it wasn't me because it's not something I'd do."
In his closing remarks, Mr Storan outlined to the jury that the lane where the car was set on fire was well lit by street lamps and that the "it wasn't me" remark was the words of a man who had been "caught red-handed".
Mr Hayden pointed to the lack of forensic evidence, lack of CCTV footage and the defendant's unwavering assertion of innocence. "He has all the hallmarks of someone who is telling the truth," he said.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
