A life sentence has been imposed on a 21-year-old homeless man who was found guilty of murder yesterday after beating a man to death.
The jury was told the accused man allegedly struck the deceased up to seven times with a wooden stake after an unwanted sexual advance was made.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, the jury of eight women and four men returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for more than three hours in the trial of Gary Gleeson, of no fixed abode.
Gleeson had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Paul Farrell (46), Moateview Gardens, Coolock, Dublin, in Coke Lane, Smithfield, in July 2003.
The court heard Mr Farrell was beaten to death in a derelict building in the city, which is used by heroin addicts, between 11.25 p.m. on July 9th and 4 p.m. on July 10th, 2003. Gleeson's sister broke down and wept as the guilty verdict was returned.
Mr Justice White told him "the only sentence" he could impose was life imprisonment. He thanked the jury for its dedication and excused the jurors from service for 10 years.
During the seven-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, it heard the State Pathologist give evidence that the ultimate cause of death was "head and facial injuries, haemorrhaging, inhalation of blood, obstruction of the airways and brain damage".
Dr Marie Cassidy said the injuries suffered by the deceased had indicated a "violent struggle". Mr Farrell had "two bite marks identified on the face which was unusual for a victim of male homicide". The semi-naked condition of the body, the State Pathologist said, "was maybe an indication of supposed sexual activity".
The injuries said were "targeted to the genital region" but there was "no evidence of sexual activity".
The jury had heard that Gleeson and Mr Farrell had been drinking in the Out on the Liffey pub on the quays in Dublin on July 9th, 2003. The pair were seen kissing in the bar before they left the pub walking in the direction of Heuston railway station.
After reaching Smithfield, Gleeson and Mr Farrell went to an derelict building frequented by heroin addicts on Coke Lane.
The court heard Gleeson tell gardaí during taped interviews that after he lay down on a pallet, "the man lay down beside me".
"He asked me for oral sex, he kept saying go on," Gleeson told gardaí."I pulled away. We started to fight then."
Gleeson told gardaí that he grabbed something and "hit him with that".
Mr Justice White refused an application from Mr Anthony Sammon, defending, for leave to appeal.