Man admits to park murder

A homeless man aged 29 has pleaded guilty to murdering another homeless man, who was found ablaze in a Dublin park with his toe amputated. He changed his plea from not guilty after a judge ruled that his trial jury should hear his descriptive confession to the murder.

The Central Criminal Court heard that Gerard Donnelly, aged 36, had almost €150,000 in funds just weeks before gardaí found his body on fire in the Phoenix Park. The father of one died of blunt force trauma to the head before being set alight and having his little toe amputated.

Ciaran Moran, with an address at Camden Hall, Camden St, Dublin was charged with murdering Mr Donnelly at an unknown time during November 28 or 29, 2013. However, he pleaded not guilty to the murder and went on trial last week.