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"Career criminal" who set fire to house while a mother and young child were inside has four years added to jail sentence
Summary
Robert Murphy, 32, was convicted of possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He had previously pleaded guilty to these offences in 2012 and 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan originally sentenced him to nine years with five suspended, effective eight years. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the case, found the sentence unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of 11 years with three suspended, effective eight years. The appeal highlighted that Murphy, a known heroin addict and "career criminal" with 60 prior convictions, had set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child, forcing them to escape through a bedroom window. The court noted that the arson was the most serious offence and that the new sentence was intended to reflect the severity of the crime. The final effective term remains eight years imprisonment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Career criminal" who set fire to house while a mother and young child were inside has four years added to jail sentence. Charges or matters: to possessing a knife in the Fortlawn Park area on May 14 2012, discharging a firearm at a premises in Fortlawn Park on July 7 2012 and arson at Kiltipper Drive, Tallaght on November 27 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 14 2012 Incident
- July 7 2012 Incident
- November 27 2013 Incident
- October 10 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2012 Incident
- 2015-06-12 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: to possessing a knife in the Fortlawn Park area on May 14 2012, discharging a firearm at a premises in Fortlawn Park on July 7 2012 and arson at Kiltipper Drive, Tallaght on November 27 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Desmond Hogan handed Murphy an effective sentence of nine years imprisonment with five suspended on October 10 2014. The Court of Appeal had agreed last month with counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fergal Foley BL, that Murphy's sentence was "unduly lenient" and the three-judge court imposed a new sentence on him today of 11 years imprisonment with three suspended.
Places mentioned
- Fortlawn Avenue
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Fortlawn Park
- Fortlawn Park
- Kiltipper Drive
- Tallaght
Topics
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