Young man handed life sentence for murder of grandfather

A 24-year-old Galway man has pleaded guilty to the murder of his elderly grandfather almost two years ago.

Gearóid Fahy of Corrownamona, Ardrahan, Co Galway was sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Galway, for the murder of 78-year-old Finbar Fahy at Ballinduff, Ardrahan on November the 11th 2009.

Flanked by his parents and family in a packed courtroom at Galway Courthouse this morning, Mr Fahy pleaded guilty before Mr Justice Barry White.

Retired farmer and widower Finbar Fahy was found dead by a family member in his home on the N18 at Ballinduff, Ardrahan on Wednesday November 11th 2009.

Inspector Gerry Roche told the court this morning, that shortly afterwards Gearóid Fahy told a number of people including his brother, his friends and Gardai that he had killed his grandfather.

Inspector Roche said Fahy's motivation was money at first and he had gotten 20 euro, but he had also mistakenly construed that Finbar Fahy was going to hand land over to another relative.

The court also heard Gearóid Fahy had a history of addiction to alcohol and butane gas since he was a teenager.

Inspector Roche told the court that Finbar Fahy's blood was also found on a nail bar and shoes in Gearóid Fahy's own house.

His fingerprints were also found in his grandfather's house.

No victim impact statement was read out in court today.

Mr Justice Barry White handed down an automatic life sentence to Gearóid Fahy, backdated to November the 12th 2009.