A Kilkenny youth who twice tried to murder a man on the same night has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to 9 1/2 years in prison.
Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, told the court that the accused, Thomas O'Grady, was still protesting his innocence and didn't want to express remorse before he was sentenced.
Mr Paul Barry (29), a Kilkenny man, had to have his legs amputated after O'Grady set him on fire in a field on the outskirts of Kilkenny city.
O'Grady also beat him unconscious with a rock.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted O'Grady (20), of Fatima Place, Kilkenny, on two counts of the attempted murder of Mr Barry on October 10th, 1999, on Hebron Road in Kilkenny city.
O'Grady attacked Barry after a late-night drinking session with local youths.
Mr Barry had to have his legs amputated below the knees because of severe burns, and also lost a finger.
The court was told that O'Grady came from a dysfunctional family and that both parents had drinking problems.
Mr Sammon said two men had sexually abused O'Grady when he was a child, and one of his abusers was recently jailed for four years.
Mr Justice O Caoimh told O'Grady he hoped he would get much-needed support in prison, and that he would get a one-quarter reduction on his sentence if he behaved well.