A 24-year-old Limerick man has been sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for killing his father in a drink-fuelled row.
Gerard McNamara, of Cedar Court, Kennedy Park, Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Joseph “Joey” O’Donnell at Hyde Road, Prospect, in the city on October 1st, 2010.
The 48-year-old man died in hospital from blunt force trauma to the head, hours after his son had kicked and beaten him with a number of household items.
Joseph O’Donnell’s former partner Jean Coleman said a row broke out between father and son when they were both “steamed” after a day spent drinking at Joey’s house on Hyde Road.
The court heard McNamara “just snapped” when Joseph O’Donnell made “disparaging comments” about his son’s mother, suggesting he would need to take a paternity test to prove he was Gerard’s father.
The court heard McNamara has 16 previous convictions, including ones for theft, possession of drugs and public order offences. Mr Justice Paul Carney suspended the final two years of the sentence on account of Gerard McNamara’s remorse and his early guilty plea.
The sentence was backdated to October 11th, 2011, meaning McNamara is due to serve 5½ years in prison.