A 20-year-old Limerick man has been jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of a young footballer who was stabbed to death at a house party.
Keith McMahon, Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, had denied the murder of 18-year-old Edward Cully at Merval Crescent, Clareview, on February 9th, 2003. Earlier this month, a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick found him guilty of Mr Cully's manslaughter by a majority verdict of 10 to two.
The trial heard that Mr Cully was stabbed three times with a kitchen knife. Two key witnesses gave evidence identifying McMahon as the killer.
After the verdict, Mr Cully's parents had launched a scathing attack on the jury from the witness box and said they were "disgusted" with the decision.
At yesterday's sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Carney heard that there was an element of "history" between both parties. McMahon believed Mr Cully had given information to gardaí about a mugging and another incident involving damage to a garda's property.
"Keith McMahon had apparent grievances with Mr Cully over two incidents which were investigated by gardaí. His perception of Mr Cully was that he was a rat and had spoken to gardaí," Det Insp Jim Browne told the court.
Counsel for the State, Mr John O'Sullivan, said Mr Cully had been an excellent soccer player with well-known Limerick club Fairview Rangers.
Ahead of sentencing, Mr Justice Carney gave the dead man's parents another opportunity to tell the court about the impact of their son's death on their family.
However, he reminded them that on the last occasion they took the witness box, they had attacked the jury, causing one juror to nearly faint.
The victim's father, Mr John Cully, told the court his son had worked with him for two years as an apprentice blocklayer.
"From the moment we were told of Edward's death we were stricken with pain and grief. We would not wish this on anyone and I don't think we'll ever get over the shock of losing Edward so suddenly."
The dead man's mother, Mrs Gretta Cully, also spoke of her pain and anguish. "I remember the day we went to the morgue I just kept saying to myself, 'please don't be my son'."
Defence Counsel Mr Brendan Nix SC told the court his client had expressed his "utter and profound regret" for his actions.
Sentencing McMahon to 12 years, Mr Justice Carney said he accepted McMahon was genuinely remorseful, but added that anyone who resorted to using a knife in a dispute must face a heavy penalty.