Man found guilty of murdering his brother

A 31-year-old Kerry man was tonight found guilty of the murder of his brother at a New Year's Eve party last year.

A 31-year-old Kerry man was tonight found guilty of the murder of his brother at a New Year's Eve party last year.

Ailbe Lonergan (31) of Quill Street Tralee had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his brother Michael Lonergan (34), a father of five at his home at 58 Baloonagh Estate, Tralee on 31st December, 2006.

But the jury of nine men and three women tonight returned a unanimous guilty verdict at the Central Criminal Court in Tralee.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a mandatory life sentence backdated to December 31st 2006 when Ailbie Lonergan was taken into custody shortly after stabbing his brother three times.

Michael Lonergan was stabbed through the heart. Shortly after the stabbing he was removed from his home to hospital where he died some hours later.

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