A Dundalk man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a man in the town on Christmas Eve 2003.
Kenneth Cunningham (31), Woodview Park, Castletown Road, Dundalk was today at the Central Criminal Court found guilty of the murder of Mr. Laurence Garvey, a 59 year-old father of two, at Patrick Street, Dundalk on December 24th 2003.
The jury of eight women and four men returned a unanimous verdict of guilty shortly before midday. Mr Garvey's badly beaten body was discovered in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2003 shortly after he left a public house in the town.
He was still alive when he was found, but died before an ambulance could reach the scene. Cunningham, who had denied the charge, showed no signs of emotion when the verdict was read out.
The family and friends of the late Laurence Garvey sitting in the public gallery expressed relief after the verdict was read out.
Following the verdict the trial Judge, Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan, imposed the mandatory life sentence.