A man has been jailed for life at the Central Criminal Court today after pleading guilty to the murder of another man in Clontarf in Dublin last year.
Michael Downes (42), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to murdering Finbar Dennehy (50), Seafield Road, Clontarf, Dublin on a date unknown between September 24th and 26th last year.
Detective Sargeant Paul Slattery of Clontarf Garda station told the court that Downes and Mr Dennehy, both gay men, were previously acquainted.
Mr Dennehy had been employed in Cadbury's and had retired early, before the age of 50.
Downes had travelled to Dublin on the Sunday before the murder and had arranged to meet Mr Dennehy. They socialised in pubs and returned to Mr Dennehy's apartment that evening.
Det Sgt Slattery said that Mr Dennehy's body was found in his apartment the following Wednesday. He was "tied up elaborately on the couch, a plastic bag was tied over his head and there was a pool of blood on the floor beside him."
Mr Dennehy died from strangulation and a stab wound to the groin.
Downes was arrested at the Inn on the Liffey, Ormond Quay that Friday. He told gardai that he had been with Mr Dennehy in his apartment the previous Monday and that "a dispute had arisen in relation to sex."
Downes got a knife from the kitchen, returned to the living-room and asked Mr Dennehy for cash. Mr Dennehy pushed him and Downes pushed back. He told gardaí that there was a struggle and that there was blood on the floor.
Downes told gardaí that he tied up Mr Dennehy on the couch, waited in the apartment that night and strangled him the next morning.