A Dublin man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court on Saturday of the manslaughter of a man who was stabbed to death.
Speaking after the verdict, the mother of the dead man said she "was glad it was over" and that the man who had killed her son had "finally been convicted".
In a retrial, John Paul Hayes (23), Belcamp Green, Coolock, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Francis Moore (33) at his home in Coultry Road, Ballymun, Dublin, in June 1999. After 7 1/2 hours, the jury returned a majority verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Mr Moore died after being stabbed 39 times on the balcony of his flat. He had been living with a sister of Hayes in the flat where the killing took place. Hayes also stayed at the flat.
The court was told Mr Moore had been beating Ms Hayes and prior to the killing there was "serious difficulties and violence". During one violent argument, Mr Moore hit her with a bunch of keys in his fist and she moved out. A week later Mr Moore was found dead on the balcony of the flat.
Hayes had admitting stabbing Mr Moore three times before a second man grabbed the knife and began attacking Mr Moore. He apologised to Mrs Joan Moore, the victim's mother.
The court heard Hayes had a drug problem and had a very "troubled life". Defence counsel Mr Peter Finlay SC asked Mr Justice Patrick Smith for time for the preparation of psychiatric reports and an assessment of Hayes's drug problem before passing sentence.
The judge refused to allow Hayes to remain on bail until he is sentenced on January 14th and ordered that he be taken into custody.
Mrs Moore said she was happy that a "verdict had been reached this time. We couldn't have faced another trial."