Ireland Case No. 18794Arson · Co. Offaly · 5 May 2022
Man sentenced to seven and a half years for Tullamore car arson
On the night of 5 May 2022, Faris Doherty, a man from Charleville Parade, Tullamore, Co Offaly, smashed the windows of a car belonging to Shauna Keenan, a woman who lives at 1 Charleville Parade, poured petrol into and over it, and set it alight. The fire burnt the car beyond repair, damaged Keenan's home and two neighbouring houses, and caused total damage of €23,000. Doherty was arrested and charged with three counts of arson, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to setting a Hyundai car alight, and was remanded in custody after a December 2023 hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court. On 21 December 2023 he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the final two and a half years suspended, for three counts of arson.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Dec
- Convicted13 Dec
- Sentenced21 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Faris Doherty set fire to a car belonging to Shauna Keenan on Charleville Parade, Tullamore.
- The fire destroyed the car, damaged Keenan's home, including its windows and front door, and damaged a second neighbouring house, including the home of Fiona Dalton.
- Where
- Shauna Keenan lives at 1 Charleville Parade, Tullamore, Co Offaly, and the car was parked outside her home.
- When
- The fire was set at about 2am on 5 May 2022, when Keenan woke to a bang and saw Doherty at her car.
- Weapon
- Doherty smashed the car's windows and poured petrol into and over the car before setting it alight.
- Cause
- The case facts say the incident arose after Keenan rejected Doherty's repeated advances and requests to go out with him.
- Other details
- The total cost of damage was €23,000, with damage to Keenan's home valued at €22,400.
- Investigation
- Doherty was arrested and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act; CCTV footage showed him setting the car alight, and gardaí found accelerant in his house and burns on his hands.
- Charges
- Doherty was charged on 5 May 2022 with three counts of arson.
- In court
- In April 2023 Doherty pleaded guilty to count 1, setting a Hyundai car alight; two charges of damage to neighbouring houses were taken into consideration.
- At the December 2023 sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court, the judge said prison was unavoidable, and sentencing was deferred to 21 December with Doherty remanded in custody.
- Probation services rated Doherty as a high risk of reoffending, and the judge said he breached his bail conditions by sending Keenan an apologetic card.
- The judge directed €5,800 of Doherty's money to Fiona Dalton for repair costs; Doherty had gathered €10,000 in compensation and wants to pay more.
- 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, for three counts of arson.
- On release Doherty must have no contact with Shauna Keenan, must submit to probation supervision, and must keep the peace for 12 months.
45 statements extracted from the articles
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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