A Northern Ireland man who is charged with the manslaughter of three elderly sisters by setting fire to a house on Inishbofin island two years ago said in a statement to gardai that something told him to start the fire while he was in a rage at being thrown out of a pub on the island, writes Ann Healy.
Mr Alan Murphy (26) has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mrs Eileen Coyne (81) at Middlequarter, Inishbofin, on July 6th 1999. He also denies the unlawful killing of her two sisters, Mrs Bridget McFadden (80) and Miss Margaret Concannon (72), and to setting fire to Mrs Coyne's house.
The trial continues today.