A Dublin man was jailed for life yesterday after he pleaded guilty to the murder of civil servant Marilyn Rynn, who disappeared after attending a Christmas party in December 1995.
Mr Justice O'Higgins sentenced David Lawler at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Ms Rynn on a date unknown between December 22nd, 1995 and January 7th, 1996.
The court heard that Lawler had been overcome by a "homicidal and sexual impulse" which led to him sexually assaulting and strangling his victim.
The body of Ms Rynn (41), a civil servant at the Department of the Environment, was discovered on waste ground near her home at Brookhaven Drive in Blanchardstown on January 7th, 1996.
Lawler (33), married and a former telephone technician, of Edgewood Lawn, Blanchardstown, spoke only once during the 10-minute hearing. He answered "Guilty" when the murder indictment was read to him by the court registrar.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Peter Charleton SC said that Ms Rynn was "a highly-respected and liked public servant."
She attended an office Christmas party at the Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny on the night of December 21st, 1995 and left at around 2 a.m. She went into town where she had a cup of tea before travelling by Nitelink bus to Blanchardstown.
She arrived there at around 3.30 a.m. and proceeded to walk home. Several witnesses saw her walking through an area known as "The Tunnels" and the Tolka Valley Park.
"There she was accosted by the accused who assaulted her pursuant to a homicidal and sexual impulse. He strangled her, having dragged her to a more private place," he said.
Gardai found Ms Rynn's body on January 7th, 1996 and a forensic examination showed that she had been sexually assaulted and murdered.
During the Garda investigation a large number of people were interviewed and blood samples were taken for DNA testing. A blood sample provided by the accused gave a positive result.
Lawler was arrested in August, 1996 and volunteered a statement indicating that he was the culprit and also telling of the "sexual and homicidal impulse which overcame him on the morning of her death."
Det Insp Derek Byrne, the officer in charge of the case, told defence counsel Mr Patrick McEntee SC that Lawler had been drinking heavily since the lunchtime before Ms Rynn was murdered.
Mr McEntee said Lawler had given a blood sample for DNA testing knowing that by doing so he was effectively pleading guilty to the murder.
Lawler had instructed him to say that he "deeply regretted" Ms Rynn's death and "unreservedly apologises" to her family for what had happened.
Mr Justice O'Higgins told Lawler that he had pleaded guilty to murder, for which there was a mandatory penalty. He sentenced him to life imprisonment.