Kerry man gets life for murder of his 'wonderful' mother who 'had a smile for everyone'

The trial heard that Billy Burns had been aggressive and violent towards Miriam Burns since he was a teenager and on one occasion broke her jaw

Billy Burns (pictured) had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his 75-year-old mother Miriam Burns, but a jury unanimously rejected that defence earlier this week. Photo: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

A 55-year-old Kerry man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the “violent” murder of his “wonderful” and “hardworking” mother — described as someone who “always had a smile for everyone” — whom he strangled to death at her Killarney home three years ago.

Billy Burns had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his 75-year-old mother Miriam Burns, but a jury unanimously rejected that defence earlier this week.