A man has been found guilty of killing a Galway publican at his bar over seven years ago.
The body of John Kenny was discovered at Kenny's Bar, Main Street in Oughterard on September 25th 2011 by his wife and daughter.
When discovered Mr Kenny was lying face down with his hands tightly bound.
He had suffered a violent and sustained assault.
His injuries included fractured ribs, a shattered shoulder blade, extensive muscle and soft tissue damage as well as damage to his forearms, wrists and hands.
Today at Galway Circuit Court, a jury of seven men and four women returned a guilty verdict against 24-year-old Marian Lingurar Junior - a Romanian native with an address at Blackpool, Co Cork.
Lingurar Jr worked at Kenny's Bar that night as a bouncer.
In statements given to Gardaí in the days following the killing, he told Gardaí he left the premises at 1.00am and arrived back home in Claregalway at 1.40am, where he says he remained for the rest of the night.
However, it was the prosecution's case that he returned to Oughterard at around 2.20am, as part of a plan involving several people, to steal from Mr Kenny and commit violence if necessary.
During the trial, evidence was given that extensive mobile phone data placed Lingurar Jnr - and others involved in this plan - in Oughterard between 2.20am and 3.00am on the night.
The jury was also shown extensive CCTV of a vehicle of interest, which travelled between Galway and Oughterard several times between the evening of Saturday evening, and early hours of Sunday morning.
Lingurar Jnr was also found guilty of a second charge of trespass with intent to commit an offence.
He is due to appear back before Galway Circuirt Court on Wednesday May 8th, when probation and governance reports will be presented, as well as victim impact statements.
Following the verdict, John Kenny's widow Kathleen and daughter Gillian declined to speak, though expressed a wish to acknowledge and praise the tireless work of Gardaí, the prosecution, and "all those behind the scenes" during the course of the investigation.
This is the first time someone has been convicted over the killing of John Kenny over seven years ago - but it is not the end of the investigation.
Two men - Florin Fitzpatrick and Marian Lingurar Senior - have previously been jailed for withholding information in the case.
The State also withdrew a manslaughter charge against Mr Lingurar Snr.
However during the trial, Detective Garda Henry Burke gave evidence that Gardaí are still actively seeking two other men for questioning.
Reporting by David Nevin
