A man jailed for life for murdering his friend in a row over a sausage lost his appeal against conviction yesterday.
Charlie Maher (21), with an address at Grange Cohan, St John's Park, Waterford, was convicted in May 2003 of the murder of Mr John Paul Ryan (20) at Grange Cohan on March 11th, 2002.
The trial heard that a group of friends, including the deceased and the accused, had been drinking on the grounds of a football pitch on the outskirts of the city. According to witnesses, Mr Ryan took a sausage out of the accused's bag, and Maher took this the wrong way. Maher later armed himself with two knives.
During the appeal yesterday it was argued for Maher that he had been taunted, and that the trial judge had not taken into account the issue of provocation.
In dismissing the appeal, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Keane, sitting with Mr Justice Lavan and Mr Justice O'Leary, held the trial judge had given a fair and comprehensive charge to the jury.