TRIPLE murderer Brendan O'Donnell was back in the Central Criminal Court yesterday to have a date fixed for his sentence in relation to the kidnapping of two persons in the west of Ireland in 1994 and other charges.
O'Donnell (22), a native of Co Clare but of no fixed abode, will be sentenced tomorrow.
On April 2nd last, he was convicted by a majority jury decision of the murders of Ms Imelda Riney, her son, Liam, and Father Joseph Walsh in the west of Ireland in 1994.
He was also convicted of nine other charges including the false imprisonment of Father Walsh, (the kidnapping of Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary (on May 7th, 1994, and the hijacking of vehicles driven by both persons on the same date.
O'Donnell was also found guilty of having a .22 rifle and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on May 7th, 1994.
The 53 day trial heard O'Donnell admit he shot all three victims in the head at close range.
The body of three year old in Riney was found in a Co Clare wood lying across his mother's body while that of Father Walsh was found nearby.
Mr Justice Lavan sentenced O'Donnell to life imprisonment on all three murder counts. He deferred sentence on the other accounts on the indictment and will deal with those matters tomorrow.
O'Donnell returned to court yesterday for the brief two minute hearing. He is now detained at Arbor Hill prison and is described by prison sources there as a model inmate.