# Man on trial for attempted murder after Tipperary petrol attack Case 4282. Attempted murder, assault causing serious harm, arson, Co. Tipperary, 2025-10-11 **TL;DR:** Patrick Williams, a 42-year-old man, suffered serious burns when he was doused in petrol and set alight at Knockane, Ballylooby, Co Tipperary shortly after 9pm on Saturday 11 October 2025. He was treated at the scene and taken to Cork University Hospital, later transferred to St James' Hospital in Dublin, where he remained in a critical but stable condition. Luke Caplice and Chad Allan, both in their 20s, were arrested and charged with his attempted murder, assault causing serious harm and arson, and were remanded in custody after appearances at Dungarvan and Clonmel District Courts. Caplice, now 29, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court in July 2026, with sentencing adjourned to 2 November. Allan, now 28, pleaded not guilty and went on trial before a jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick on 11 November 2026. **Stage:** Convicted. Reported stages: Arrested (2025-10-12), Charged (2025-10-13), In court (2025-10-13), Convicted (2026-07-31) ## People - Victim: Patrick Williams, man, 42 - Suspect: Luke Caplice, man, 29 - Suspect: Chad Allan, man, 28 ## Key facts **What happened** - Patrick Williams, a 42-year-old man, was doused in petrol and set alight, suffering very serious burns to much of his body, and another man was seriously assaulted in the same incident. **Where** - The incident happened at Knockane, Ballylooby, Co Tipperary. **When** - The assault happened shortly after 9pm on Saturday, 11 October 2025. **Weapon** - The prosecution says Luke Caplice arrived in a grey jeep that was driven into a red Audi owned by John Coffey, then threw significant quantities of petrol over Mr Williams and set him on fire using a lighter. **Investigation** - Gardaí arrested two males in their 20s; Garda Kieran Hayes said Luke Caplice was arrested at 11.05pm on 11 October and taken to Cahir Garda Station, and Detective Garda Conor Gleeson said Chad Allan was arrested at 12.40am, both detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. - The prosecution alleges Allan acted jointly with Caplice in the attack and that both had the specific intent that Patrick Williams would die in the fire, and also in making off with fuel without paying and in the alleged arson of the red Audi. **Charges** - Luke Caplice and Chad Allan were charged with the attempted murder of Patrick Williams, assault causing serious harm and arson by setting fire to a red Audi at Knockane, Ballylooby on 11 October 2025, and a previous charge of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences of the Person Act 1997 was withdrawn. - Both men were also charged with stealing green diesel, petrol, kerosene, two coffees and a can of Red Bull at Top Oil Service Station, Cashel Road, Cahir on the same date, and Caplice was separately charged with criminal damage to a car at Cois na hAbhainn, Ballyporeen and using a false vehicle registration plate at the Cahir filling station. - Luke Caplice, aged 29, of Knockane, Ballylooby, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the attempted murder of Patrick Williams on 31 July 2026. **In court** - The men appeared before Judge John O'Leary at Dungarvan District Court on 13 October 2025 and at Clonmel District Court the next day, where neither applied for bail and both were remanded in custody, later to 28 October for the DPP's directions. - The DPP directed that both men be tried on indictment on the attempted murder charge at the Central Criminal Court. - Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 2 November and directed that a victim impact statement be prepared. - Chad Allan, aged 28, of Cahir, pleaded not guilty before the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick on 11 November 2026 to attempted murder, assault causing serious harm, arson of a car belonging to John Coffey and theft from a filling station owned by James Butler, and a jury of six men and six women was sworn in with evidence due before Ms Justice Melanie Greally. **Other details** - The victim was treated at the scene, taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital and later transferred to St James' Hospital in Dublin, where he remained in a critical but stable condition after weeks of treatment for burns all over his body. - When charged, Allan replied 'it wasn't me' and Caplice replied 'it didn't happen' to the assault charge and 'it wasn't me' to the criminal damage charge, and the court heard both men have mental health difficulties. ## Reports (10) | Date | Outlet | Report | |---|---|---| | 2025-10-12 | rte.ie | [Two men arrested after serious assault in Co Tipperary](https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1012/1538165-tipperary-assault/) | | 2025-10-13 | tipperarylive.ie | [LIVE: Two men charged over serious assault in Tipperary after man doused in petrol](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/live-two-men-charged-over-serious-assault-in-tipperary-after-man-doused-in-petrol-6725960) | | 2025-10-13 | corkbeo.ie | [Two men in court after man doused in petrol and set alight in Co Tipperary](https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/two-men-court-after-man-32664286) | | 2025-10-13 | tipperarylive.ie | [Two men charged with serious assault of man in Tipperary are remanded in custody](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/two-men-charged-with-serious-assault-of-man-in-tipperary-are-remanded-in-custody-6725469) | | 2025-10-14 | tipperarylive.ie | [Two men charged with assaulting and harming man in Tipperary make second court appearance](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/two-men-charged-with-assaulting-and-harming-man-in-tipperary-make-second-court-appearance-6724524) | | 2025-10-14 | tipperarylive.ie | [LIVE: Men charged with serious assault in Tipperary also charged with theft of Red Bull can](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/live-men-charged-with-serious-assault-in-tipperary-also-charged-with-theft-of-red-bull-can-6724291) | | 2025-10-14 | tipperarylive.ie | ['It wasn't me' and 'it didn't happen' - response of men charged with assault in Tipperary](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/it-wasnt-me-and-it-didnt-happen-response-of-men-charged-with-assault-in-tipperary-6724286) | | 2025-12-17 | irishtimes.com | [Pair charged with attempted murder of man (42) doused in petrol and set alight in Tipperary](https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/12/17/pair-charged-with-attempted-murder-of-man-42-doused-in-petrol-and-set-alight-in-tipperary/) | | 2026-07-31 | tipperarylive.ie | [Man pleads guilty to attempted murder of man in Tipperary](https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/crime-courts/man-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-murder-of-man-in-tipperary-8833487) | | 2026-11-11 | limerickpost.ie | [Man pleads not guilty to attempted murder of man doused in petrol and set alight](https://www.limerickpost.ie/2026/11/11/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-attempted-murder-of-man-doused-in-petrol-and-set-alight/) | HTML: https://irelandcrime.com/case/man-on-trial-for-attempted-murder-after-tipperary-petrol-attack-4282 This page is put together automatically from the reports listed above. 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