Life for killer who kicked man to death in his home
A MAN has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the unexplained murder of a stranger he kicked to death.
Raymond Walsh (24) had been due to go on trial before the Central Criminal Court earlier this month for the murder of Kevin Molloy (41), between January 23 and February 1, 2015.
But Walsh, of Carnlough Road, Cabra West, Dublin, pleaded guilty and appeared yesterday for sentencing.
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynch said Mr Molloy had lived alone at Glendhu Road, Navan Road, Cabra.
“Not having heard from him for some time, his father went to investigate and found his body in the house. He had suffered head injuries,” he said.
Det-Insp Lynch told Gerry Clarke, prosecuting, that fingerprints and DNA had linked Walsh to the house.
“Over five interviews, the accused denied being in the house at all times and has never given an explanation as to why he was in the house,” he said of Walsh, who was 21 at the time.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Molloy’s father, Bartley, described his only son as a loving son and brother to his sister.
He said he was generous and kind, and that was how the family would like him to be remembered.
Mr Molloy said his son had been a completely innocent person who had done absolutely nothing to deserve what had happened to him. Nobody would ever realise the trauma the family had gone through “on that fateful day”, he added.
“To think that we went to see him and will never see him is heartbreaking,” he said. “We never got a chance to say goodbye.”
Patrick Gageby, mitigating, said his client had taken his time to consider the decision he had made.
Walsh, who had no previous convictions, had asked Mr Gageby to express his remorse.
“He is deeply sorry and it’s that desire not to cause any further distress that informed his decision to plead guilty,” Mr Gageby said.