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Offaly Man Freed After Trying To Burn A Murder Victim's Body

Thursday, 16 September 2021 13:09

The Edenderry man has been in custody since 2014.

An Offaly man, who tried to set fire to a murder victim's body, has walked free from court after being in custody since 2014.

27 year old Matthew Cummins of Churchview Heights in Edenderry, Co Offaly, was originally found guilty of the murder of Thomas Dooley but that was quashed on appeal.

64 year old Thomas or Toddy Dooley was beaten to death with a baseball bat at his home in February 2014 , which was described as a brutal, motiveless attack on a defenceless elderly man.

He suffered eight blows to his head and attempts were made set him on fire after he died.

Three men were found guilty of his murder but two of them had the convictions quashed this summer on appeal.

One of them, Matthew Cummins who has been in custody since 2014, was resentenced today for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person.

His barrister, Caroline biggs said her client admits he tried to burn the victim’s body describing it as a despicable act which he accepts and is ashamed about.

She said he acted out of shock and had already served seven years after being wrongly convicted of the most heinous crime in law. 

The 27 year old was resentenced to nine years in prison with two suspended, meaning he’s a free man having served his time already.

Judge Michael White told him ‘’you’ve a terrible record and now have the opportunity to live a life away from crime - so take it when you get it'.

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