Man jailed for life over murder of friend during row

A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his friend in a row in Co Wicklow last year.

Thomas O’Connor of Burnaby Court, Greystones, who hit John O’Brien several times on the head with a rock, had pleaded not guilty to his murder at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, on June 4, 2010.

He admitted killing the 22-year-old to gardaí but on November 25 last a jury of six men and six women returned a unanimous verdict of guilty after nearly four hours of deliberation.