Courts / Westmeath / Report

'Horrendous' arson attack saw low-level drug dealer set alight and left to die

Date
2020-10-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Mullingar

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David Keena, aged 21, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for his role in a 2015 arson attack on Ciarán Murphy, a low‑level drug dealer in Offaly. Keena, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. He was found to have stabbed Murphy 16 times and poured petrol over him, resulting in 96 % burns and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart. Murphy survived but suffered life‑threatening injuries and permanent physical and mental trauma. Keena's sentence runs consecutively with a previously imposed six‑year term for a drug‑dealing offence. The court noted Keena's youth, lack of prior convictions and drug use as mitigating factors. The case involved a false rumour that Murphy was a Garda informant, spread by his former girlfriend, which the court found to be untrue.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Horrendous' arson attack saw low-level drug dealer set alight and left to die. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by way of arson at Mr Murphy's home at Coolcor, Rhode, Co Offaly on September 7, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

September 7, 2015 Incident
July 2019 Incident
November 2015 Incident
September 2015 Other
June 2016 Other
July 2017 Other
2020-10-28 Publication

Why: He said he will never now be able to afford his own home or car because he is unemployable and described how his relationship with his young son has suffered. CNI source report

Case subjects

David Keena

Convicted Person

Charges: assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by way of arson at Mr Murphy's home at Coolcor, Rhode, Co Offaly on September 7, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Describing his culpability as lower than his co-accused, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Keena to a prison term of six and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence imposed today will run consecutive to the 2019 sentence.