Firebomber to be sentenced in Supreme Court

Press, 25 January 1979, Page 3

Firebomber to be sentenced in Supreme Court

PA Timaru The firebombing of a ’ policeman’s home at Temuka last week was carried out by a man wanting to settle an | old debt, the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru was told yesterday. 1 Anton Peter Joseph Di- ! reen, aged 23, unemployed, . of Temuka, pleaded guilty to ■ wilfully setting fire to Con- ' stable John Delaney’s home. ; The Magistrate, Mr I. Hay, S.M., declined jurisdiction and remanded Direen to the Supreme Court for sentence. Sergeant R. F. Hendry said that before the attack, Direen had been abusing the police and making threats about what he intended doing, especially to Constable Delaney with whom he had had previous ingsWith two outers, Direen; had made a Molotov cocktail! and had gone to Constable! Delaney’s home and thrown| it through the window'. When questioned by the! police next day, he had de-i. nied being involved but later I had admitted throwing the I Molotov cocktail. L

Sergeant Hendry and Direen described the attack as “being like a bad dream.” He had thought the room in the house where the Molotov cocktail landed was the sitting room instead of a bedroom and he had had no intention of injuring anyone. Direen told the police tht before committing the offence. he had been drinking and had taken “some pills.” On charges of assaulting a constable, wilful damage, and disorderly behaviour, which arose from a separate incident, Direen was sentenced to two month’s imprisonment.

Two other Temuka youths also appeared yesterday on charges relating to the firebomb attack. Geoffrey Edward Direen. iaged 17, a turner, pleaded ;guilty to aiding Anton Dij reen in wilfully setting fire to the house, and Peter John Jogg, aged 18, an apprentice I butcher, pleaded guilty to ibeing an accessory after the fact. I Both were remanded to iFriday for sentence.