The coroner at the inquest concluded that Ms McGovern was likely to be in the process of leaving him and this, coupled with his fear of facing prison because of his illicit relationship, contributed to him starting the fire.
Anyone convicted of threatening politicians or employees of the state such as fire-fighters or doctors and their families faces two years in prison and a fine of 30, 000 euros.
Department plans include shedding jobs, closing some police stations, reducing the prison population (finding custody alternatives) and reduce the scope of the island's fire and rescue services.
That has filled the jails: in May, 103 prisoners, most of them gang-members, died when fire swept through a grossly overcrowded prison in San Pedro Sula.