Brute caged for horrific killings

A THUG was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for the double murder of two small-time criminals whose bodies were burned beyond recognition.

Jason O’driscoll claimed the jury got it wrong as he received the mandatory term at the Central Criminal Court.

He had been found guilty of murdering Anthony Burnett, 31, and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth, where they had gone to sell him a stolen car on March 7 2012.

The court heard when emergency services were called to a burning car in a layby at Ravensdale Forest Park, they saw skulls and rib cages inside the vehicle.

The five-week trial heard the bodies were fused together but were later confirmed to be those of the two Dubliners.

They had gone to sell O’driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, a stolen car but were shot dead and set ablaze inside a black Volkswagen Golf.

The five women and seven men had reached a majority verdict of 10 to two, following more than seven hours considering their verdicts at the end of the trial two months ago. At O’driscoll’s sentencing hearing yesterday, prosecution barrister Alex Owens read out victim impact statements prepared by their mothers.

Mr Burnett’s mother Marie, admitted her “loving, kind-hearted and caring” son had made some bad decisions in his life.

However, she said he’d paid the price and had spent his final years trying to improve himself.

Ms Burnett added: “Not only was my son shot, but their bodies were burned so badly we couldn’t even have an open coffin and say a proper goodbye.

“We were robbed of that by a callous, cold-hearted person.

“How he sleeps at night, I’ll never know.

“He not only killed our sons, but he killed a big part of us too.

“He has ruined so many lives and he has filled us with so much anger and hatred.” At this point, O’driscoll shouted he was innocent.

Mr Redmond’s mother, Pauline Doran, said her eldest son had been brutally murdered in a most violent manner “for being in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

She wrote: “My life will never return to normal after the total devastation.”

How he sleeps at night, I’ll never know. He killed a part of us MARIE BURNETT

IN IMPACT STATEMENT