A judge has jailed for 15 years a Westmeath man he said had “murderous intent” during a brutal assault in which the victim was stabbed 16 times before being set alight.

A man has pleaded guilty to a role in the multiple stabbing of a low level drug dealer who was set on fire five years ago.

A low level drug dealer was stabbed 16 times in his Co Offaly home and set on fire after his ex-girlfriend spread a false rumour that he was a garda informant.