A MAN who set fire to a car outside a house in which a woman died, after she became trapped by flames in an upstairs room, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Jason Murphy (37), Elm Park, Clonmel, Co Tipperary was sentenced yesterday for the manslaughter of Ann-Marie O’Neill (50) following an arson attack on her home on April 27th, 2007.
Murphy was convicted by a jury last March of the manslaughter of Ms O’Neill and of two counts of arson after pleading not guilty to all charges.
The trial heard Murphy was drinking with a number of people at a bonfire in a field adjacent to the O’Neill house on the night of the blaze.
Ms O’Neill’s family prepared a victim impact statement which was read out for them in court yesterday. They said they would always love and miss her and described how her friendship, support, good nature and good humour are “irreplaceable”.
Judge Thomas Teehan said he had to have regard to the “callous nature” of the offences.
He accepted that there was no intention to kill or hurt anyone, but said that the recklessness in starting the fire was “of a high order”. Judge Teehan sentenced Murphy to 15 years for manslaughter, 12 years for arson of the car and seven years for arson of the house.
Leave to appeal was refused.