A Dublin man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of battering his father to death with a hammer and a hurley.
Edward Brady (25) Glenshane Grove, Tallaght, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court today of murdering his father Thomas Brady (50) at his flat at Dolphin's Barn, Dublin 8, on January 19th, 2005.
The jury of seven men and five women returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder after deliberating for more than five hours over two days.
During the two-week trial the court heard that Mr Brady died as a result of multiple blows to his head and shoulders. The jury was told that Mr Brady suffered 66 separate injuries - most to his head, face, jaw and neck.
On the night of January 19th, Mr Brady was found in a pool of blood in the bedroom of his flat and was rushed to St James's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His son had denied the murder but admitted to manslaughter.
Brady's lawyers claimed that the defendant had lost total control of himself, and was provoked after he and his father had argued over a family matter.
The court was told that the two generally got on well, but problems arising from his parents' fractious marriage affected their relationship.
After imposing the mandatory life sentence Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan agreed to backdate it to the January 27th, 2005, when Brady initially went into custody.