TWO Waterford men who killed an epileptic who drowned in his own blood after a savage beating were jailed for a total of 15 years in London yesterday.
False teeth found beside the body of Mr Bob Beech led detectives to the killers, James Connolly, a convicted rapist and his younger cousin, William Halligan, both originally from Waterford city.
The pair had pursued a harrowing campaign of violence leading to the death of Mr Beech (34) who suffered from epilepsy.
Sentencing the pair for manslaughter, Judge Gerald Grigson said: "Bob Beech was a polite and pleasant man who suffered a terrible death, and each of you has been convicted of playing a part in that death."
He added: "I take the view that each of you presents a grave risk to the public, and there is nothing before me that gives any indication that when released either of you will have changed."
Connolly (35), of no fixed address, who was sentenced to nine years in prison, has a string of convictions for violence dating back to 1983 when he was jailed for 10 years at Waterford Circuit Court for the rape of a woman who was kicked unconscious after leaving a New Year's Eve party.
Connolly and another man then carried her half a mile to waste ground and raped her.
Nine years later at another court in Waterford, Halligan was jailed for five years for robbery. He broke into a house and entered the bedroom of a woman who woke to find him at the foot of her bed wearing a balaclava. He beat her with a spade and escaped, taking property with him.
For his part in killing Mr Beech, Halligan (26), of Leinster Square, Bayswater, central London, was jailed for six years.
The court heard that Mr Beech thought both men were his friends and drinking pals, but in fact they derived pleasure from their regular beatings of him.
After the fatal attack on May 23rd last year, Connolly's smashed dentures were found in the blood spattered flat at Fielding House, South Kilburn Estate,
Kilburn, and when police arrested Connolly they were a perfect fit.
During the trial, Mr Victor Temple QC, prosecuting, said: "It is a sad feature of this case that violence towards Beech was an all too common occurrence and those witnessing it became almost inured to its effect."
Mr Beech's body lay undiscovered for two days, and a post mortem revealed the extent of his injuries which included seven broken ribs caused by stamping and throat injuries.