A youth from Co Meath who confessed to his part in a botched armed robbery in which a New York delicatessen worker was shot dead in 1996 was sentenced yesterday to five years to life in prison.
Nassau County Judge Donald DeRiggi handed down the minimum sentence to Robert Bright, who was 15 years old at the time of the shooting.
Bright's lawyer, Mr Anthony Colleluori, said after the sentencing he would apply to have his client serve out his sentence in Ireland.
He believed the judge had taken into consideration Bright's youth and his part in the crime to give an appropriate prison term.
Mr Colleluori said he thought the Government would have no problem taking the boy back, and there would be no problem returning him from the US, he said last night on RTE's news at 9 p.m.
"I am satisfied with the sentence," he said.
"It was the most lenient sentence under the law. I believe the judge took into consideration my client's crime and his small part in the death of the victim."
Bright had faced a prison sentence of nine years to life, the maximum term for a juvenile charged with murder.
In a videotaped confession given soon after his arrest in 1996, Bright had told police he was part of a two-man team who tried to rob the Doughty Deli in the Inwood section of Long island, New York, said Mr Bob Hayden, the assistant district attorney in charge of prosecuting the case. The store employee, Mr Mossod Sadiq, was shot and killed during the raid.
Richard Robinson, Bright's partner in the robbery, confessed to shooting Mr Sadiq with a shotgun. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges and was sentenced yesterday to 25 years to life in prison.
Detectives caught Bright after he was recognised on a security video. The camera caught him stealing about $400 (£290) from the till while holding an employee at bay with a firearm.
Bright arrived in the US from Dunboyne, Co Meath, about five years ago with his mother and his older brother.
He was unhappy with the move to New York and wanted to fit in, according to his lawyer. He eventually fell in with the wrong crowd, Mr Colleluori added.
He plans to apply to the Government for Bright's repatriation in the next 30 days. That process could take 12 to 18 months. The Nassau County District Attorney's office would not oppose that move as long as Bright's sentence was not reduced in Ireland, Mr Hayden said.