A man who burned a gran alive is currently under 24-hour surveillance during his hospital treatment. Michael Leonard, 63, is serving life for setting fire to romantic interest Mary O'Keeffe.
CorkBeo reports that the incident occurred back in 2021, when the 63-year-old became 'increasingly obsessed' with the grandmother after she ended their relationship. A court heard that Leonard arranged to meet Ms O'Keeffe at a wooded area in Cork, Ireland on February 4, 2021.
However, within minutes of her arrival, he threw two gallons of petrol into a car she was in and set it on fire. A post-mortem showed that she was still alive when the fire started.
Leonard was sentenced on December 14 2022 to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of 72-year-old. However, just eight weeks into his sentence the murderer has been taken to hospital.
The 63-year-old was taken from his jail cell in Cork prison to a hospital on February 12. Sources told the Irish Mirror that he is currently under 24-hour surveillance in Mercy Hospital.
However, The Irish Prison Service declined to comment on the situation saying they do not "comment on individual prisoner cases." During the sentencing of Leonard, tributes poured in from Ms O'Keeffe's friends and family for the dearly missed grandmother.
The victim's granddaughter, Nicky O'Keeffe, broke into tears as she told the court of her grandmother's love of music and dancing, her generosity and her kindness. She said: "Mary O'Keeffe will be forever in our hearts, she is deeply loved, sadly missed and will never be forgotten.
"We like to think she is happy, dancing in the sky.”
Mr Justice Paul McDermott described it as the "most horrific attack carried out by fire that led to this poor woman's death". He added: "There has been a terrible loss inflicted on this family and I can only express my sincere condolences to them."
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