DUBLIN, Ireland: A burglar who committed an act of arson and burglary at a well-known Dublin city cocktail bar and pleaded guilty has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Craig Johnson (37) admitted to arson and burglary at Peruke and Periwig on September 19, 2025.
He also admitted to breaking into Adams Auctioneers the next day, on September 20, 2025. However, he did not steal anything because there were no antiques he wanted. Johnson has 83 previous convictions and was on bail when these crimes happened.
On March 11, Elma Sheahan sentenced him to six years in prison, but suspended the final 18 months.
The court heard that the basement of Peruke and Periwig suffered 23,323 euros in damage to the room and its electrical fittings. Three bottles of alcohol were stolen, but two were later recovered.
At first, Johnson chose not to answer police questions. Later, he admitted his actions and told officers they could clearly see it was him.
Detective Frank Kennedy said Johnson did not intentionally start a fire. Instead, the damage sparked what appeared to be an electrical fire.
Kennedy also told prosecutor Brian Storan that during the break-in at Adams Auctioneers, a window was broken, but nothing was stolen because there were no antiques Johnson wanted.
Johnson also pleaded guilty to having a stolen racing bicycle at Mercer Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, on September 23, 2025.
In that incident, staff in the Department of the Taoiseach saw him on security cameras and called the police. Officers then arrested him. The bicycle had never been reported stolen, and its owner was never found. No victim impact statements were presented in court for any of the offences.
Johnson's lawyer said he was addicted to drugs and homeless at the time, living in a tent. The lawyer said Johnson now has clean drug test results and wants to enter a rehabilitation program.
Judge Sheahan gave him a six-year sentence, but suspended the last 18 months for 18 months. The sentence was backdated to September 2025 to count the time he has already spent in custody.
The judge noted there was no evidence that Johnson deliberately started the fire, and said she took into account his efforts to deal with his drug addiction. She ordered him to serve the suspended portion of the sentence in a residential treatment program.
