A 32-year-old Dublin man was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend's former lover.
Mark McCann, Virginia Drive, Finglas, was given the mandatory life term at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Robert Rogers (26), Berryfield Road, Finglas, on January 12th, 2002, at Cappagh Avenue, Finglas.
The jury deliberated for over three hours before reaching a majority verdict of 11 to 1.
Mr Rogers's mother, Sheila, wept as the verdict was returned. McCann sat motionless as he was sentenced by Mr Justice Carney.
The court heard the fatal stabbing arose out of a rivalry between the deceased and the accused for the affections of one woman, Ms Anita Dunne.
Mr Rogers's brother, Philip, told the court in his victim impact statement that his brother was nothing like the person who had been portrayed during the trial.
"My brother was no bully, or a danger to anyone.
"He was a kind decent person and we had to sit through his assassination in court."
The deceased, Mr Rogers stated, was the father of three young girls from a previous relationship.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Rogers said his brother's children "won't have a father for Christmas.
"It's very hard to cope with. He won't be there for them at family occasions".
Ms Sheila Rogers said after the verdict that her son's little girl now aged nine was six on the day her father was murdered by McCann.
Mr Rogers said: "The middle daughter took her father's death really badly. She is receiving counselling to cope with it. She didn't want to make her Communion last year because her daddy wasn't going to be there."
He said the convicted man would "eventually have freedom" and that he believed McCann "should spend the rest of his life in prison".
He said Ms Dunne had told him she was "pleased with her relationship" with Robert Rogers. "He had strong feelings for her," he added.
Det Supt John Mulligan told the court after sentencing that McCann was currently serving a three-year sentence for assault causing harm committed in November 2003 while he was on bail for the murder charge.
Det Supt Mulligan said McCann had 12 previous convictions, including ones for larceny and road traffic offences.
During the six-day trial the court heard McCann murdered his girlfriend's former lover because he didn't want Mr Rogers "around her".
After Mr Rogers called to the house of Ms Dunne on the morning of the fatal stabbing, McCann confronted him.
A struggle ensued and the deceased was stabbed.
An application for leave to appeal was refused.