Courts / Kerry / Report
Killer came forward after ten years to reveal truth of fatal fire
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine after a house fire in Tralee on 12 May 2012. Griffin, who had no fixed abode and was originally from Tralee, had previously been convicted of 41 offences. He voluntarily approached Gardaí in May 2022, admitting that he and another man had entered the O'Brien home, set fire to a couch with a lighter, and fled. The fire caused the deaths of Anthony and Nadine; Kelly O'Brien survived but fractured her heel. Griffin, who appeared by video link from prison, said he could not live with the guilt and wants to be locked up. The court heard that the case had been closed after a 2013 inquest that found no evidence of a criminal act.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Killer came forward after ten years to reveal truth of fatal fire. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien (30) and Nadine O'Brien (5) at Killeen Heights in Tralee on May 12, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 12, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-12-16 Publication
Why: A killer handed himself into gardai 10 years after a fire that claimed the lives of a brave father and his cherished daughter because he "couldn't live with the guilt of what happened" and now wants to be locked up, a court has heard. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien (30) and Nadine O'Brien (5) at Killeen Heights in Tralee on May 12, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She said the DPP view is that the offence falls into the medium culpability range and warrants a sentence of between four and ten years.
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- Killeen Heights
- Tralee
- DPP view
Topics
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