O'Donoghue expresses sympathy to victim's parents

Wayne O'Donoghue's solicitor Frank Buttimer said his client had asked him to reiterate his sympathies for the tragic loss of Robert Holohan, and expressed his sympathy to his parents, family and friends.

“Wayne is extremely relieved and grateful that the criminal proceedings in respect of this case are now concluded,” he said.

Mr Buttimer admitted that the defence team asked the appeal judges to take into account the effect the victim impact statement had had on his client as a mitigating factor.

“They supported what we were saying in relation to that, but found it not necessary to give further consideration to it on the basis the sentence was not altered in any fashion,” he said.

Outside Dublin's Four Courts, a tearful Mrs Holohan said: "Our thoughts are with Robert. Our thoughts are with our little beautiful little boy. We are very upset."