Man handed life sentence in shallow-grave murder case

A 27-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a man whose body was found months after he was shot and dumped in a shallow grave in Co Wicklow.

Applause broke out in court as Michael Dickenson of Darragh Park in Wicklow, was sentenced to life for killing Steven O'Meara at Ballydonnell Wood, Redcross, Wicklow, on or around August 6, 2009.

Steven O'Meara was shot twice in Ballydonnell Woods having been hired to collect a €15,000 drug debt from Michael Dickenson's brother.

His body was found in a shallow grave on Christmas Eve nearly five months after his disappearance.

On the stand, Michael Dickenson told the jury he was instructed by some men to drive the 26-year-old father-of-three to the woods, but he said he did not know he was to be shot.

It took the jury just less than six hours to convict the 27-year-old who kept his head down as the majority 10-2 verdict was read out.

There was applause by members of the victim's family as Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory life sentence.