Insurance company suing Porvoo church burner for millions

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The insurance company If is demanding EUR 4.3 million in compensation form a young man who started a fire at Porvoo Cathedral in May 2006.
      The company has submitted a compensation demand to Porvoo District Court to recover the costs of repairing the roof and the interior of the large Lutheran cathedral, which If had insured.
      The company is demanding that it be compensated for the costs incurred from the repair, plus interest, as well as court costs.
     
The young man was found guilty of an act of destruction in the autumn of 2006, and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. The Helsinki Court of Appeals saw aggravating circumstances in the act and increased the sentence to six and a half years.
      The fire broke out on May 29th, 2006, when the man, in his 20s, lit a small paper fire on the eaves of the roof. The fire spread into the roof structure. The 100-year-old shingled roof was completely destroyed, and the interior of the medieval building suffered smoke and water damage.
      The cathedral was recently repaired, and was reconsecrated on Sunday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Hosannas ring out again from restored Porvoo Cathedral (1.12.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat