A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a retired barman in Cork city.
Paul Murphy (25), of Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork city, had denied the murder of Donal Manley at his home in High Street, Cork, between October 10th and October 12th, 2008.
Mr Murphy also denied a charge of assault causing serious harm and to stealing a number of items including a jacket, a cap, an umbrella, a watch, a TV and a Chorus black box belonging to Mr Manley.
At a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork today, the jury of nine women and three men took two and a half hours to return their unanimous verdict.
In addition to the mandatory life sentence, Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a concurrent five-year sentence on Paul Murphy for the theft of property.
The court heard that Paul Murphy has 23 previous convictions. He is currently serving a two and half year jail sentence for hitting a man with a glass and stamping on his head.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Manley’s brother Pat spoke of having a kind and thoughtful sibling who always made time for his parents when they were alive.
Pat Manley said he was particularly offended by “vicious and slanderous statements” made against his brother in the course of the trial.
“I cannot help but to think that he presented an easy target for those who seek out the weak and vulnerable to prey on,” he said.
The Irish Times
