Murphy had behaved 'bizarrely' before arson

On July 5, 1999, Murphy was off from work in Clifden, Co Galway, with injured ribs for which he received an anti-inflammatory injection and prescription painkillers, when he decided to visit the island.

The jury heard how Murphy consumed 10 pints and behaved ‘‘bizarrely’’ in a pub in Middlequarter before he was thrown out of the premises early in the morning for annoying customers.