TWO convicted murderers are challenging the mandatory life sentence claiming it excludes a discretionary role for judges in recommending a minimum jail sentence.

THE second of two convicted murderers began his legal High Court action yesterday against the Minister for Justice challenging the constitutionality of this country’s mandatory life sentence regime.

A 19 year-old Cork man has pleaded guilty to the murder of one woman and the attempted murder of another in Rochestown in Cork last April.

The man accused of murdering a teenager at her home in Cork and attempting to murder her friend had the case against him returned for trial today to the Central Criminal Court.

The man accused of murdering a teenager at her home in Cork last April was today charged with attempting to murder the victim's friend on the same occasion.