Man accused of murdering pensioner applies to withdraw guilty plea

A man has applied to the Central Criminal Court to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of an elderly man at a senior citizens’ complex in Dublin.

Thomas Horan, 63, was tortured before being beaten and strangled to death during a robbery at his bedsit on January 6 last year.

Kenneth Cummins of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, initially denied the charge but changed his plea just before the jury began its deliberations.

His older sister Sabrina, 37, was jailed for life today after the jurors found her guilty of murder earlier this week.

Sabrina Cummins said that Thomas Horan was a “very nice man who always made sure I had food. He was like a Dad to me” when she gave evidence during her trial.

The court heard she went to his bedsit with her younger brother Kenneth looking for money in the early hours of Jan 6 last year.

Mr Horan was severely beaten, had a rope placed around his neck, a bag placed over his head and they also tried to poison him with cleaning fluids.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt will today hear why Kenneth Cummins wants to take back his plea before deciding whether to allow him to do so.

In her victim impact statement, Mr Horan’s ex-wife Marge said they remained close after their separation.

“I still dream about him all the time”, she said.