A man has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to life in prison for the murder of his best friend in Co Kildare last year.
Darren Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy had pleaded not guilty to murdering Jamie Lindsay, 20, at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on 6 April 2013.
Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in his right eye at almost point-blank range with a sawn-off shotgun after a background of mutual threats.
On 10 July last, the jury of eight men and four women returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder after almost five hours of deliberation.
Wynne was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.
Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during his trial, the plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced Wynne to life in prison for the murder.
He adjourned sentencing for the firearms offences until November next when probation and psychological reports will be before the court.
Two other men who were being tried alongside Wynne pleaded guilty to Mr Lindsay's manslaughter during the trial and will be sentenced later.
Quentin Monaghan, 21, of Tullamoy, Stradbally, Co Laois and James Seery, 21, of Canal Side, Athy were also charged with the murder.
It was the State's case that Seery and Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise.
But they were re-arraigned during the trial and both men pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.
Monaghan and Seery were also re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on the same date.
The pleas were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
