By Ronan Judge

A 21-year-old carer charged in connection with an arson attack that endangered the life of a pensioner at her home on the east side of Galway City, is due to go on trial next year.

Anna Maria Chiper, with an address at 205 Pace Avenue, Littlepace, Clonee, Dublin is accused of two arson offences on March 9 at Castlepark, Ballybane.

She faces two charges contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.

It is alleged that on March 9, at Castlepark, Ballybane, she committed arson, damaging by fire the interior and exterior of a property at Castlepark belonging to a named woman, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged and intending by the said damage to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.

The accused is also charged that on March 9, at Castlepark Ballybane, she committed arson of a Black Renault Clio.

Galway Circuit Court was told a trial date would be required and Judge Brian O’Callaghan adjourned the case to a date on October 2026.

At the accused’s first court appearance at Galway District Court in October, Detective Garda Ronan Leonard said the accused replied “I don’t agree”, when both charges were put to her, under caution, at Galway Courthouse.

Detective Leonard said there were no objections to bail subject to the accused surrendering her passport and signing on twice a week at a local Garda station.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.