Father of four-year-old Edenderry fire victim refused compassionate bail to attend funeral
The father of a child that died in an arson attack on a home in Edenderry on Saturday evening has been denied bail to attend his son’s funeral.
Aaron Holt (27), with an address in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly, currently detained in Midlands Prison, appeared via video link at Mullingar Circuit Court, where an application for bail was brought before Judge Kenneth Connolly.
Through an affidavit read by his counsel Catherine McCormack BL, Mr Holt indicated he was seeking bail following an arson attack on December 6, which resulted in the deaths of his four-year-old son and his aunt and left Mr Holt’s mother in critical condition.
Ms McCormack said her client was hoping the court would grant bail on compassionate grounds and outlined that he is willing to abide by any conditions imposed on him and will attend court “on each and every occasion”.
The primary purpose of the bail application was the death of his aunt and son, as Mr Holt hoped to attend the removals and funerals.
Funeral arrangements for Mr Holt’s son, Tadgh Farrell have been announced, with the funeral to take place tomorrow (Friday). Arrangements for his aunt, Mary Holt (60), had not yet been finalised, the court was told earlier.
Ms McCormack told the court that her client “does not wish to attend the funerals in handcuffs”, and that he wants to spend time with his immediate family.
Mr Holt is awaiting sentence at Tullamore Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to drugs-related charges, including possession of drugs to the value of more than €13,000 for sale or supply, following the seizure of €32,910 worth of heroin hidden near his home in May 2024.
That seizure resulted from CCTV surveillance, which showed another male hiding a plastic bag outside Mr Holt’s home, which was later seized by Gardaí. Further CCTV footage showed Holt and the other man searching for the plastic bag after Gardaí had seized it. The bag was found to contain 219g of heroin.
Mr Holt is also currently serving a nine month prison sentence for further drug-related offences, which were committed while on bail for the charges currently before the court, plus a consecutive sentence of three months for driving without insurance.
Detective Garda Joseph Bradley, giving evidence, said he would have “grave concerns” should Mr Holt be released on bail. He expressed concern that he would commit further offences. He also stated he would fear for Mr Holt’s safety and the safety of others in the community.
When asked where he would place Mr Holt on the “pecking order” for the drugs trade in Edenderry, Det. Gda Bradley said the accused was “front and centre” and “the principal supplier of illegal drugs in Edenderry and the surrounding areas”.
Mr Holt has 57 previous convictions, the court heard, 54 of which were committed while on bail, and ten of which were for drugs-related offences.
Judge Connolly noted that the application was “moot”, as even if Mr Holt was to be granted bail, he was serving a sentence and only the prison could grant him compassionate release to attend the funerals.
He extended his “significant sympathy for the bereavement of his son, loss of his aunt and the fact his mother is in intensive care”.
However, noting Mr Holt’s criminal record, the safety concerns put forward in Garda evidence and the nature and value of the drug seizure for which he is awaiting sentence, he said, “I have no hesitation in refusing bail”.