Meagher's uncle says 'a certain justice done' as Bayley sentenced to 35 years

Jill Meagher's uncle says a certain justice has been done for his niece after the man convicted of the rape and murder of the Irish journalist was sentenced to at least 35 years in prison in Australia.

Adrian Earnest-Bayley, who had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Victorian Supreme Court in Melbourne this morning.

Justice Geoffrey Nettle told Bayley: "The nature and gravity of your offending and its antecedence ensure that nothing but life imprisonment will suffice.

"It was a savage, violent rape of the worst kind. Your killing of the deceased ranks among the worst kind conceivable. I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt you pose a risk to the sexual safety of the community."

Justice Nettle said Bayley would not have received a minimum term if he had not pleaded guilty.

Mrs. Meagher was attacked as she walked back to her flat after having drinks with colleagues from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Bayley dragged her into an alleyway before raping and murdering her.

The serial sex offender was on parole at the time after serving eight years in prison for raping five women previously. He was also on bail, after causing serious injury to a man outside a nightclub.

Jill's husband Tom and her family were in court for the sentencing hearing.

Her uncle, Michael McKeown from Drogheda, has thanked the police in Melbourne for their work. He said her family and friends now need time to grieve in private.

"Well it's difficult when you have court proceedings, court cases, all the uncertainty of all that - and all that uncertainty of course now gone.

"In many ways the family and friends of Jill just need privacy, place and time now to grieve Jill," he added.