A man has been found guilty of murdering a former kickboxing champion in a Dublin City centre pub.
Bernard Dempsey (48) from Golden Lane, Dublin, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court today of killing James Curran (42) in Green Lizard pub, Francis Street, on April 3rd, 2005.
The trial heard that Dempsey entered the pub on the night and fired three shots into the head of Mr Curran as he sat drinking with friends.
The jury of ten men and two women returned a unanimous verdict in the Central Criminal Court after deliberating for just over one hour.
Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed the mandatory life sentence on Dempsey , saying this was the third murder he had seen where somebody undisguised in a pub put a bullet into somebody else's head in front of a crowd of people.
"These people think they are invincible and that they can commit these kinds of acts with impunity," he said.
He said that due to the bravery of witnesses in two out of the three cases, those responsible for the murders were successfully convicted. "It is totally socially unacceptable that someone loses their memory in trials such as these," he said.
The trial was marked by dramatic incidents including the arrest of two men on suspicion of plotting against the jury.
Chief witness Bernard Kinsella who was operating a karaoke machine on the night of the murder was commended by the judge for giving evidence despite threats made against him.
Mr Kinsella told the jury he was mid-way through a song when he heard the initial shot. He then looked up and saw a man shoot James Curran a further two times in the back of the head, before walking calmly out of the pub.
He then identified Dempsey in open court as the murderer. After sentencing, Detective Inspector Gabriel O'Gara said there was "widespread intimidation involved in the case." He said Mr Kinsella received a death-threat just 13 days after identifying Dempsey in the Garda identification parade.
He said he viewed them as 'very genuine threats.' A number of people close to Mr Kinsella were also intimidated.
A Garda investigation began into the source of the threats but they were unable to bring it towards the point of prosecution. Inspector O'Gara said the Gardai received information in February related to the case, which suggested the accused was planning for two men and a woman to be 'taken out
Earlier in the week the sister of Dempsey wept as she told the court how her brother stood directly behind the victim with his arms outstretched as the shots were being fired.
Mary Kennedy said she turned to Mr Curran and heard a bang. She saw "blood splattering from his head" and could see the look of shock in his face.
"I remember seeing sparks of blood and the smell of blood. Everywhere was just mayhem. Apart from Curran, I saw my brother but there were lots of other people there as well," she said.
A brother of Mr Curran is married to her sister.
In his victim impact statement, Brendan Curran, a brother of the victim, told the court his entire family had been "traumatised by this act of wanton destruction on a young life."
Speaking directly to Dempsey he said: "You've put a hole in my mother's heart. You've put a hole in all our hearts and they have been filled with grief which is everlasting. I hope you can live with that."
After the verdict he said: "I feel shocked. There are no words for it." He added: "Justice is served."