A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of 83-year-old Christy Hanley in Co Westmeath last year.
Mr Hanley was found tied up and beaten to death in his home.
It took the jury at the Central Criminal Court four hours and 10 minutes to reach its unanimous verdict, finding Noel Cawley (47), of no fixed abode, but with a previous address in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Hanley at his home on Bridge St, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath on May 21st last year.
Cawley was also found guilty of robbing Mr Hanley of an unknown sum of money at the same address on the same date.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has remanded Cawley in custody until July 3rd for sentencing.
At the outset of the trial, Cawley pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hanley.
However, Mr Justice McCarthy reduced the murder charge to one of manslaughter, saying that he took the view that there was “a reasonable possibility that he [the accused] did not intend to cause serious harm.”
Mr Hanley’s body was found lying across his living-room floor. His hands were tied behind his back. His legs were also tied. A coat was draped over his body, covering his head, and his trousers were down around his feet.
During the trial, deputy State pathologist Michael Curtis told the court that Mr Hanley “seemed to have been beaten about the head and face.
Dr Curtis said that Mr Hanley could have died from inhaling his own blood.
Cawley’s fingerprints and DNA were found on a belt that had been tied around Mr Hanley’s wrists.