Life term for murder of man in Dublin flat

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of a man whose body was found in a wardrobe.

Christopher Jackson, aged 53, was stabbed to death in his Dublin flat on September 7, 2012.

Bernard Locke, aged 41, from Ramillies Rd, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Jackson two weeks ago.

Conor Devally, prosecuting, confirmed with Detective Garda Michael Donlon, that Locke had pleaded guilty to a single count of murder.

Locke had conceded he was guilty immediately after he was arrested.

“Mr Jackson’s body was discovered in his own flat on Prussia St wrapped in duvet covers,” said Mr Devally.

“Mr Jackson had been the subject of multiple stabbings. Bernard Locke conceded he was guilty of the killing immediately upon arrest. In six Garda interviews, he accepted responsibility that he had descended to the lower flat and had stabbed Mr Jackson through the heart, severing a rather significant artery.

“He had brought Mr Jackson to the kitchen where between continuing to stab him, he administered countless wounds. Mr Locke said he found Mr Jackson annoying, and that he was ‘somebody with an attitude’.”

Locke had 40 previous convictions, he said.

A victim impact statement was delivered in court by Mr Devally on behalf of Mr Jackson’s daughter, Nadine Clifford.

Ms Clifford said: “I feel Bernard Locke robbed me of my father. Dad will miss out on my wedding and any children I may have. I will have to attend some form of counselling and will never have full closure.

“I no longer have my father in my life — no one will ever replace him. I feel it is very unfair.

“I do not go to church anymore and I find it upsetting going to the city centre… While I feel some comfort that he [Locke] was man enough to admit to the crime, he will eventually be released from prison, while my father is in the grave.”

Aileen Donnelly, defending, said Locke had hoped that his guilty plea would be accepted as remorse.

“He [Locke] did regret and co-operated in interviews, saying, ‘when am I going to be charged?’ He hopes the guilty plea will be accepted as remorse.”

Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced Locke to the mandatory sentence of imprisonment for life from September 8, 2012.