A Kilkenny man accused of attempting to murder a friend by striking him on the head with a rock and setting him alight, has been found guilty of a lesser charge of causing serious harm at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
The jury of eight men and four women found Thomas O'Grady (24) of Fatima Place, Kilkenny, not guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one count of causing serious harm, but guilty of causing serious harm by inflicting head injuries.
O'Grady had denied all four charges.
Paul Barry (34) of Ossory Park, Kilkenny, suffered a fractured skull when O'Grady struck him with a rock at Pennesfatherslot, Kilkenny, on October 9th, 1999.
In the course of the 14-day trial, the court heard that O'Grady and Mr Barry had been friends. They met with a number of other acquaintances on an October evening six years ago to consume alcohol in what is locally known as Danny Mac's field.
A serious argument erupted between O'Grady and Mr Barry when Mr Barry was accused of having HIV. The gathering dispersed and when Mr Barry was left alone with O'Grady he received what he called "a belt with a rock on the side of the head".
After passing out for an hour, Mr Barry claimed he awoke to find O'Grady dragging his feet into a fire. The jury found O'Grady not guilty of this charge.
The burns he sustained eventually required his legs to be amputated.
Mr Justice Henry Abbott remanded O'Grady in custody and adjourned sentencing until December 13th.