A Northern Ireland man has been jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of a community activist, Mr Terry Madden, in Co Sligo last year.
Michael Joseph Herron, a 31-year-old single man and native of Belleek, Co Fermanagh, with an address at Chapel Street, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, was convicted of the murder of Mr Madden, a 52-year-old father of three and FAS supervisor, at his home at Monasteraden, Co Sligo, on January 28th last year.
Herron was also jailed for 10 years for possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life on the same date.
Mr Justice Morris said the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that a statement made by Herron to gardai was true. Herron told gardai he agreed to "do" or "sort out" Mr Madden for a payment of £1,500 as revenge for a perceived grievance.
The judge said the court was satisfied that Herron fired two shots from a shotgun at Mr Madden, the first as he ran back to his house and the second into the back of his knee after he had ordered Mr Madden to lie on his stomach. The court was satisfied that Mr Madden bled to death after he was shot outside his home. The second shot to his right leg severed the main artery. The judge said the court also accepted that there was no evidence that Herron intended to kill Mr Madden but did intend to cause him serious injury, and therefore under the 1964 Criminal Justice Act was guilty of murder.
Insp Michael Barrett said that Herron, who moved to Ballyshannon in 1987, was convicted at the Special Criminal Court in February 1988 of possessing a firearm with intent to enable another person to endanger life and jailed for four years. Insp Barrett told Mr Peter Charleton SC, prosecuting, that the late Mr Madden's family were "devastated" by his murder, had lost the family breadwinner and were now depending on social welfare.
Herron's counsel, Mr Brendan Grogan SC, read a statement from the defendant to the court, in which he said: "I am very remorseful for what happened to Terry Madden. I didn't intend to kill that man. I have sat in court for three weeks and watched Terry Madden's wife, children and family having to listen to the details of how he died. "I think they have gone through enough as have my family. I know I have to go to jail. I know it is no consolation to the Madden family. I hope the court accepts my genuine sorrow."
Mr Grogan said it was a case where "incredible stupidity" had set in, and his client and his family had been devastated by the events.
The court will give its verdict today ) in the trial of two other men accused of Mr Madden's murder.
Pte Michael Doohan (34), a single man, of Ashbury Lawn, Ballinode, Co Sligo, and Mr Patrick McGrath (57), a married father of 12, of Cuilprughlish, Gurteen, Co Sligo, deny the murder.
Pte Doohan and Mr McGrath also deny intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Madden at Monasteraden on the same date, and Mr McGrath denies possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to enable another person to endanger life.