Ireland Case No. 18794Arson · Co. Offaly · 5 May 2022
Man sentenced to seven and a half years for arson in Tullamore
On the night of 5 May 2022, Faris Doherty, 29, of Puttaghaun, Tullamore, is alleged to have smashed the windows of a Hyundai car belonging to Shauna Keenan at 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore, poured petrol over it and set it alight, destroying the vehicle and damaging two houses on the street. The incident is said to have arisen after Keenan rejected Doherty's repeated advances. Doherty was arrested, charged with three counts of arson, and pleaded guilty to the car count at Tullamore Circuit Court in December 2023, with the two house-damage charges taken into consideration. On 21 December 2023, he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison with the final two and a half years suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court25 Jan
2 reports - Convicted13 Dec
- Sentenced21 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Doherty pleaded guilty to setting a Hyundai car alight, and the fire also damaged two houses on Charleville Parade, Tullamore.
- Where
- The car belonged to Shauna Keenan at 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore, and the fire damaged 2 Charleville Parade, where neighbour Fiona Dalton lives.
- When
- The fire was set on the night of 5 May 2022.
- Cause
- The incident is said to have arisen after Keenan rejected Doherty's repeated advances.
- Investigation
- Doherty was arrested and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act; CCTV showed him setting the car alight, and gardaí found accelerant in his house and burns on his hands.
- Charges
- Doherty was charged with three counts of arson.
- In court
- Doherty pleaded guilty to count 1 at Tullamore Circuit Court in December 2023, with the two house-damage charges taken into consideration.
- Sentence
- On 21 December 2023, Doherty was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison with the final two and a half years suspended on his own bond of €500.
- Other details
- The overall cost of damages was €23,000, and the judge directed €5,800 of Doherty's money to Fiona Dalton for repair costs.
- Doherty had no previous convictions and was rated a high risk of reoffending by probation services.
64 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe is alleged to have damaged by fire a Hyundai car on 5 May 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHe is alleged to have damaged by fire the front windows, doors and front wall of 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore, on the same date. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHe is also alleged to have damaged by fire the front windows and front wall of 2 Charleville Parade, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatFaris Doherty set fire to the victim's car. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatFaris Doherty pleaded guilty to setting a Hyundai car alight. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatKeenan's car was burnt beyond repair. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe fire damaged the windows of Keenan's home and melted the front door. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatBarrister Colm Smyth said Doherty had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatFaris Doherty was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison with the final two and a half years suspended for three charges of arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatDoherty smashed the car's windows and poured petrol into and over the car before setting it alight. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe fire destroyed the car and damaged two houses on Charleville Parade. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe car belonged to a woman who lives at 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereShauna Keenan lives at 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe fire was set on the night of 5 May 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe car was set alight on the night of 5 May 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenOn 5 May 2022, Faris Doherty set fire to a car on Charleville Parade, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenAt 2am on 5 May 2022, Shauna Keenan woke to a bang outside her house and saw Doherty at her car. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe victim had rejected Doherty's repeated advances. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeDoherty had made a number of advances towards Keenan, which she had rejected. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe incident arose after Doherty repeatedly asked Shauna Keenan out and she refused. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationDoherty was arrested and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationDetective Garda Adrian Hanley showed CCTV footage of Doherty setting fire to the car. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí found accelerant in Doherty's house and burns on his hands. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationCCTV showed Doherty setting the car alight. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeFaris Doherty (29) of Puttaghaun, Tullamore, is charged with three counts of arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeDoherty was facing three counts of arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeFaris Doherty was facing three counts of arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeDoherty was charged on 5 May 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeDoherty pleaded guilty in April 2023 to count 1, setting fire to the car. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe Book of Evidence was served by Garda Stacey O'Brien on Faris Doherty at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtHe was sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court on 18 April 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtSgt James O'Sullivan said Mr Doherty will be tried on indictment. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to Mr Donal Farrelly and one counsel. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail being granted for the second time in three weeks. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtAt a sitting on 4 January, Detective Garda Hanley said Mr Doherty had broken a bail condition by being seen by one of the alleged victims walking past her house on two occasions. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody requested the victim appear at the 12 January sitting but she failed to do so, and he remanded Mr Doherty on continuing bail to the 18 January sitting. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody said he couldn't identify Mr Doherty from the CCTV footage. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtHe was remanded on continuing bail on his own bond of €100 with independent surety of €2,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtAn additional condition was imposed to stay out of Tullamore, and if he wants to go into town he must contact the gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtOther conditions include staying away from alcohol, a curfew between 8pm and 8am, signing on at Tullamore garda station, no contact with the two alleged victims, surrendering his passport, and staying away from Cormac Street, Charleville Parade and the town park. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtDoherty pleaded guilty to count 1, setting a Hyundai car alight. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that €5,800 of Doherty's money be given to Fiona Dalton for repair costs. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said prison is unavoidable in this case. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtSentencing was deferred until 21 December. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtDoherty was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on 21 December. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe overall cost of damages amounted to €23,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said prison was unavoidable in this case. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said Doherty breached his bail conditions by sending Shauna Keenan an apologetic card. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtProbation services rated Doherty as a high risk of reoffending. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceDoherty was sentenced to seven and a half years, with the final two and a half years suspended on his own bond of €500. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceOn release, Doherty must have no contact with Shauna Keenan. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceDoherty must submit to probation supervision and keep the peace for 12 months. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherMr Doherty is denying the charges. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherDetective Hanley said Mr Doherty has a distinctive walk and is very tall. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherMr Doherty had moved out of his home at Charleville Parade to a distance away and was signing on at the garda station. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherJudge Cody noted that Mr Doherty has given sworn evidence that he didn't commit the crime. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherTwo further charges of damage to neighbouring houses were to be taken into consideration. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim's car was burnt beyond repair and the fire damaged her home. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe overall cost of damages was €23,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge directed €5,800 of Doherty's money to Fiona Dalton for repair costs. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherDoherty had burns to his hands when gardaí searched his house. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe damage to Shauna Keenan's home was valued at €22,400. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherFiona Dalton, a neighbour, also suffered thousands of euro in damage to her home. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherDoherty had gathered €10,000 in compensation and wants to pay more. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Dec2023Infatuated man sentenced to seven and half years for arson attack in Tullamore
Sentencing report for an arson on Charleville Parade, Tullamore, on 5 May 2022. The article gives the sentence, the bail breach, the victim's impact statement and the compensation paid. It does not match any existing case.
convicted, Faris Doherty, male, namedFaris Dohertyvictim, Shauna Keenan, female, irish (judged from name)Shauna Keenanvictim, Fiona Dalton, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Dalton - 13 Dec2023Court hears Offaly woman no longer feels safe in her home following terrifying arson attack
Guilty plea to count 1 (setting a Hyundai car alight) at the December sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court; two damage-to-houses charges to be taken into consideration; victim impact statements; €5,800 directed to Fiona Dalton from compensation money; sentencing deferred to 21 December and Doherty remanded in custody.
victim, Shauna Keenan, female, irish (judged from name)Shauna Keenanvictim, Fiona Dalton, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Daltonconvicted, Faris Doherty, male, named, irish (judged from name)Faris Doherty - 12 Dec2023Woman no longer feels safe in her home following arson attack court hears
Trial reported at Tullamore Circuit Court; Doherty pleaded guilty to count 1 (setting a Hyundai car alight) and sentencing was deferred to 21 December 2023. Victim impact statements from Shauna Keenan and Fiona Dalton and a €5,800 compensation direction are reported.
victim, Shauna Keenan, female, irish (judged from name)Shauna Keenanvictim, Fiona Dalton, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Daltonconvicted, Faris Doherty, male, named, irish (judged from name)Faris Doherty - 25 Jan2023Man sent forward for trial to circuit court on three counts of arson in Tullamore
Details the service of the Book of Evidence, the three specific counts of arson, the bail hearing in which Detective Garda Hanley presented CCTV footage from Christmas Eve 2022, and the conditions of continuing bail imposed by Judge Andrew Cody.