Lankan jailed for burning down own restaurant in Ireland
19 February 2013 12:43 pm
A Sri Lanka man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being found guilty of setting his own restaurant on fire in an attempt to claim compensation.
46-year-old Meril Fernando, of An Tuairin, Lackenfune in Co Waterford, was found guilty last November of starting a fire at the Quasi Lanka restaurant at the Dungarvan Shopping Centre in the town on or about October 8, 2009.
Judge Rory McCabe yesterday sentenced Fernando to five years in prison for the "serious offence".
However, the judge took a medical condition and previous good behaviour into consideration and suspended the final 18 months.
Fernando, who is originally from Sri Lanka but is an Irish citizen, collapsed after his trial in November and was removed to hospital in the custody of the prison services.
He is said to suffer from cardiac problems.
The judge recommended that Fernando receive any medical treatment deemed necessary while he is incarcerated.(www.build.ie)