A 20-year-old Limerick man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for the manslaughter of an 18-year-old who was stabbed to death at a house party in the city.
Keith McMahon of 108 Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, had denied murdering Mr Edward Cully at Merval Crescent, Clareview, Limerick, on February 9th, 2003.
However, earlier this month, the jury of seven men and five women found McMahon guilty of manslaughter.
Today Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced McMahon to 12 years in prison.
During the five-day trial, evidence was heard that Edward Cully had suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest at a house party in Limerick.
He had earlier been drinking with the accused at a city-centre nightclub and later they went to the party with friends. Dr Margaret Bolster gave evidence that there were traces of the recreational drug, MDMA, present in the dead man's blood stream.
Two key witnesses also gave evidence identifying Keith McMahon as the person who stabbed Mr Cully three times with a kitchen knife. During the trial the jury was shown a taped interview with gardai in which the accused said he had merely intended to "prick" Edward Cully with the knife.