A 22-year-old Kilkenny man was jailed for life at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon for the murder of an another man in Kilkenny city in 2001.
After deliberating for two hours, a murder trial jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against James O'Keefe for the murder of Mr Simon Hoyne (30).
The jury heard that James O'Keefe beat and kicked Mr Hoyne to death as he returned home from a night out in Kilkenny City on the June bank holiday weekend in 2001
The jury had heard that the deceased sustained a ferocious beating fractures of the throat caused by possible crushing of the throat in an unprovoked attack.
James O'Keefe of Knockbrack, Kilree, Stoneyford, Co Kilkenny has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Simon Hoyne of Reimeen, Tullarone, Kilkenny on 3rd June 2001 at John's Bridge Kilkenny.
A number of garda witnesses had testified that they came on the scene towards the end of the attack. O'Keefe looked at the gardai and gave Mr Hoyne, who was lying on the ground, one final kick before running away. He was arrested shortly afterwards.
Mr Hoyne, described in court as a quiet, inoffensive man had joined friends in Kilkenny for a few drinks after work. He went to a disco and was walking near John's Bridge when O'Keefe set upon him. The court also heard that the accused and the deceased did not know each other.
The court heard that O'Keefe, a father of one, has a number of previous convictions including criminal damage and public order offences.
His mother and members of Mr Hoyne's family, including his mother were in court today for the verdict.
Mr Justice Paul Carney thanked the jury and released them from further service for 10 years. He imposed the mandatory life sentence backdated to June 2001 when the accused was taken into custody.