A man was jailed for life by Belfast Crown Court today after he was convicted of the murder of a man he stabbed in a fast food restaurant.
A judge told Anthony Hagans, 29, from Ross Street, in the Divis area of west Belfast, that he must serve at least 12 years before he can be considered for release.
David Finn, 32, from the city's Forthriver Parade, was stabbed once through the heart during a confrontation in a McDonald's restaurant in Belfast city centre in February 2001.
Hagans was convicted of murdering Mr Finn last November after a vicious row erupted when they traded insults over a door.
Mr Justice Girvan told the court that while Mr Finn had acted in an "aggressive and provocative manner" towards Hagans, it in no way could justify "the fatal stabbing, or reduce the gravity of the stabbing from murder to manslaughter".
The judge said he accepted that Hagans had not gone to the McDonald's restaurant in Castle Place "with any premeditated plan to kill or injure", but that he had allowed himself to get involved in an "extremely violent confrontation".
Hagans was convicted in November following his second trial for the murder. In May 2002, a jury failed to reach a verdict after the initial trial.
PA