Asylum seeker doused himself in petrol and made threat to kill

AN ALGERIAN asylum seeker, who doused himself in petrol and threatened to kill a female employee at an accommodation centre in Monaghan Town last March, was given a suspended five-month prison sentence when the matter came before a recent sitting of Monaghan District Court.

Mehdi Bouadjela (45) with addresses given at asylum centres at Atlantic Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry and at St Patrick’s Accommodation Centre, Drumgoask, Monaghan town, pleaded guilty to threatening to damage property at the St Patrick’s site on March 11, 2025, and that he also threatened to kill a female employee.

Sergeant Lisa McEntee said gardaí got a call from the centre at 1.30pm on that Tuesday. The defendant had covered himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. He was on the flat roof of one of the complex buildings and had a lighter taped to his right hand, the sergeant said. A large container of petrol was also present.

Sgt McEntee said a hostage negotiator was required and that it “took some time” to get Bouadjela off the roof.

Judge Raymond Finnegan put it to Roisin Courtney, solicitor, that the defendant’s actions showed “how he repays the hospitality” shown to him by this country.

Ms Courtney explained that her client was suffering from mental health issues.

For the threat to the centre employee, Judge Finnegan imposed a five-month prison sentence but suspended it for 24 months on the condition that there be no reoffending in the meantime. The other charge was taken into consideration.