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A young drug dealer stabbed up to 16 times and left for dead in a burning house will be scarred for life if he survives.

Ciaran Murphy, 24, is still battling for his life after he was knifed and almost burned alive over a suspected €1,000 debt.

It has been revealed that his burns are so extensive he will be left permanently scarred and will need skin grafts to repair entire areas of his body.

But it has emerged that the gang who inflicted the horrific injuries on Murphy are terrified he will identify them and lead to charges of attempted murder.

(Image: James Flynn/APX)

A source said that those behind the attack intended to kill the victim when they knifed him and set fire to his home at Rhode Co Offaly to hide the crime.

But Murphy managed to escape the flames despite multiple stab wounds and collapsed in the yard of the cottage where he was found by neighbours who raised the alarm in the early hours of Monday morning.

A guard has been stationed at St James’s hospital in Dublin where Murphy is intensive care in the burns unit and detectives are hoping to interview him if he regains consciousness.

(Image: Gareth Chaney Collins)

The blaze which gutted his rented cottage also killed 11 of his cross-breed dogs and pups which he bred.

The victim, who suffered 90 per cent burns after the sickening assault, may have owed a gang cash but gardai are also investigating whether the attack could be revenge for the Garda’s discovery of a cannabis growhouse in the Midlands.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Garda station on 057 0327600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.