Life for man who murdered friend

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his best friend in Kildare last year.

Darren Wynne, aged 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Jamie Lindsay, aged 20, at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, on April 6, 2013.

Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in his right eye at almost point-blank range with a sawn-off shotgun after a background of mutual threats.

On July 10, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder. Wynne was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.

Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during his trial, the plea was not accepted by the DPP.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced Wynne to life in prison for the murder and adjourned sentencing for the firearms offences until November when probation and psychological reports will be before the court.

The court heard Mr Lindsay was shot in the right eye at almost point-blank range at the Coneyboro estate.

Wynne told gardaí that Mr Lindsay was threatening him over €1,000 for cannabis herb that had gone missing and also threatened to rape his grandmother.

He said he shot Mr Lindsay in the shoulder but only wanted to kneecap him and did not mean to kill him.