Man found guilty of killing Westmeath pensioner

A man has been found guilty of robbing and killing 83-year-old Christy Hanley in Co Westmeath last year.

Mr Hanley – who was well-known at fairs and horse races in the midlands and often seen with large amounts of cash – was found tied up and beaten to death in his home.

It took the jury at the Central Criminal Court four hours and 10 minutes to reach its unanimous verdict, finding Noel Cawley (aged 47), of no fixed abode, but with a previous address in Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Hanley at his home on Bridge St, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath on May 21 last year.

Cawley was also found guilty of robbing Mr Hanley of an unknown sum of money at the same address on the same date.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has remanded Cawley in custody until July 3 for sentencing.

At the outset of the trial, Cawley pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hanley.

However, Mr Justice McCarthy reduced the murder charge to one of manslaughter, saying that he took the view that there was “a reasonable possibility that he [the accused] did not intend to cause serious harm."

Relatives of the deceased cheered and clapped in court as the verdict was read out. There was shouting between some of the relatives and Cawley as he was led out of the courthouse. As he was being placed in a prison van, he shouted back at them that he would be back out to them in 10 years.

Afterwards, Mr Hanley’s niece, Breda Harvey, described her uncle, as a shy, lovely old man, who had lived in Kilbeggan all his life.

Ms Harvey said her family was happy with the verdict, but would have preferred one of murder.

“He (Cawley) is behind bars now and can’t do it to another old person,” she said.