A schoolgirl raped and strangled by her ex-boyfriend has finally got justice for the pain and suffering she endured during the last few moments of her young life, her parents said.
Jonathan Byrne showed no emotion as he was jailed for life for the murder of 12-year-old Michaela Davis in August 2010.
Dublin’s Central Criminal Court heard the 19-year-old killed the youngster in a field near her home in Porterstown, west Dublin, before dumping her body in undergrowth beside the Royal Canal.
Michaela’s parents Brendan and Deirdre and brother Brendan said the core of their family life came to an end the day Michaela was taken.
“Our lives will never be the same again,” they said in a victim impact statement read in court.
“We pray that no other family will have to endure the same pain and suffering.
“Michaela can never be replaced and only in the future will the full impact of the loss of Michaela be known.”
Michaela had started secondary school at Luttrellstown Community College just days before her tragic death.
Relatives of the schoolgirl cried in court as prosecuting barrister Dominic McGinn revealed graphic details of the sexual assault on the 12-year-old.
Mr Justice Paul Carney ordered that Byrne, from Lohunda Downs in Clonsilla, be listed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.
The teenager – who pleaded guilty to murder and two counts of rape earlier this month - was handed a mandatory life sentence for murder plus 15 years for rape to run concurrently.
The court heard Mr and Mrs Davis had told Michaela to break up with Byrne, who they believed was 14 and giving their daughter alcohol.
She had been out with friends on Friday, August 28th and came home at 11pm and begged her mother if she could go back out for another 30 minutes.
The court heard she returned at 11.30pm and again asked if she could go out for another 15 minutes. She was reported missing shortly after 2am on Saturday, August 29th.
Byrne was quizzed by detectives in his parent’s home overnight and said he last saw the schoolgirl at 11pm. He also claimed he had tried to break up with Michaela when he found out she was 12.
When her remains were found by a man out walking at 4pm the next day the suspect told his father he had argued with Michaela and hit her.
He was voluntarily brought to a Garda station by his father and finally admitted raping the youngster before strangling her and carrying her body around a field before dumping it.
“He was asked about injuries to Michaela’s head,” said Mr McGinn.
“He said he dropped her body a few times when carrying her to the canal.”
In a written statement read outside the court, the Davis family said: “Michaela, as of today, will receive the justice she so deserves for the pain and suffering that she endured during the last few moments of her young life.
“The pain of losing our Michaela will never go away, nor will the love that she left behind.
“Justice will be done and lives will have to be rebuilt and this includes the Byrne family.
“Always remember Michaela in your hearts and may she now be able to rest in peace.”
In mitigation, defence barrister Patrick Gageby said Byrne pleaded guilty to spare the Davis family and his own family from going through a trial.
“He has a profound sense of guilt,” Mr Gageby added.
PA