One of two siblings on trial for the murder of a 63-year-old man at a senior citizens’ complex in Dublin has pleaded guilty.
Kenneth Cummins of Ringsend Park in Dublin 4 changed his plea following four weeks of evidence, leaving the jury to consider a verdict for his sister.
Mr Cummins chose not to be attend the majority of his trial and the jurors were repeatedly told not to read too much into his absence.
The 28-year-old had originally pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Horan in the early hours of January 6th 2014, but has now changed his plea.
Mr. Horan’s body was found inside his bedsit at the Cambridge Court complex for senior citizens. A post mortem revealed he’d been beaten and strangled to death.
Kenneth and his sister Sabrina were arrested a few days later and charged with murder.
Sabrina had known Mr. Horan for some time and spoke highly of him. She blamed her brother for what happened, while Kenneth told Gardai it was his sister.
Before sending them home for the evening, Mr. Justice Tony Hunt told the jurors they now have just one trial to deal with, that of Sabrina Cummins. They are likely to begin their deliberations at some stage tomorrow.
