Woman (31) jailed 4½ years forarson and false imprisonment
McMahon set fire to an apartment in Waterford City.
A Waterford woman will spend over four years in prison for for two separate counts of arson and false imprisonment.
Lavinia McMahon, current address unknown, was sentenced at Waterford Circuit Court by Judge Eugene O'Kelly. The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to the charges in early 2025.
On August 8, 2022 McMahon had been living in an apartment in The Courtyard, Summerhill Terrace provided through the South East Simon Community (SESC) and Waterford City and County Council (WCCC). Emergency services were called to the apartment complex after reports of a fire.
McMahon had stolen €8.17 worth of petrol from a Maxol station and poured the petrol across four locations in the apartment. When Gardaí interviewed her, she at first denied starting the fires before admitting to the crime of arson. She had wanted to move into new accommodation to live closer to her son. A number of neighbouring apartments had to be evacuated.
The arson left damages of €33,349.19. Waterford Council paid a further €18,000 in rental payments to the owner.
Adrian Hyde, Head of Property Asset Management at the SESC wrote a letter detailing how the service endeavours to support 'the most vulnerable men and women in society.' He stated that after the fire the flat was 'uninhabitable'.
Director of Services at WCCC Ivan Grimes also wrote a letter detailing how the Council signed a 25-year lease for the property. Works to repair the flat were completed after 19 months.
On the early evening of April 25, 2024, McMahon went to the HSE offices on the Cork Road, Waterford City. McMahon carried a bag that contained a rock and a knife.
She demanded to talk to a TUSLA member of staff. When one staff member brought her into a room, she threatened to stab and kill him, telling him that she had a knife in her bag. CCTV footage from the premises showed the victim running from the room and McMahon walking out moments later. Footage then captured McMahon leaving the offices, but returning to throw a rock on to the glass door of the building, shattering the glass. Gardaí were called and apprehended her on the Poleberry Link road minutes later.
She was arrested and detained at Waterford Garda Station. She told Gardaí: "I wanted him to feel my pain. I probably would've stabbed and killed him if he didn't leave the room."
The Court heard that McMahon had 27 previous convictions, which included theft offences, assault, possession, public order and criminal damage.
Defence counsel Paul W. Hutchinson BL told Judge O'Kelly that his client had long-standing struggle with mental heath and substance misuse. Mr Hutchinson said that she had a schizophrenia diagnosis which is exacerbated by drug use. He said: "She is clearly a person with difficulties and a persecution complex."
On the day of the arson, she called the emergency services. She said that the time: "I realised when I done that, that was why I called the fire engine."
Judge O'Kelly imposed a headline sentence of five years for the arson charge, reduced by 18 months in mitigation. He sentenced McMahon to four years, reduced by one year in mitigation. As the sentence went against the totality principle, the sentence was reduced by a year and suspended for another, leaving a final sentence of 4 years and 6 months. McMahon was ordered to follow all instructions of the Probation Services post release and to keep the peace.
