A Louth man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a man in Dundalk on Christmas Eve 2003.
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Kenneth Cunningham (31), Woodview Park, Castletown Road, was found guilty of the murder of Laurence Garvey (59), a father of two, at Patrick Street, Dundalk.
The verdict was unanimous.
Mr Garvey was discovered badly beaten early on Christmas Eve 2003 shortly after he left a public house in the town. He died before an ambulance could reach the scene.
Cunningham, who had denied the charge, showed no signs of emotion when the verdict was read out. Family and friends of Mr Garvey in the public gallery expressed relief.
Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan imposed a mandatory life sentence. He told Cunningham, a bricklayer, that as far as the evidence was concerned, his actions amounted to "a senseless act of violence". There was no connection between Cunningham and Mr Garvey, and the judge said he was not sure if drink was the main cause of what happened.
He added that the murder had caused enormous suffering not only to Mr Garvey's family, but also to Cunningham's own family, including his partner and their five children.
During the trial, Gráinne Hearty told how she saw a man jumping on another as she was driving past; she described of what this man looked like and what he was wearing. She later saw a man, whom she said was the same person, on another street when she and her mother returned to where Mr Garvey was.
She told her mother: "That's him," and said in her direct evidence that she would never forget his face.
Several other witnesses identified Cunningham as being in several premises in the town that night and testified as to his demeanour.
Video images also showed Cunningham in the pub in which Mr Garvey had been drinking shortly before his death and on the street outside. The jury also saw pictures of Cunningham following Mr Garvey down the street 41 seconds after he left the bar for home.
The court also heard that Cunningham had burned clothes shortly after he had returned home that night.