Courts / Limerick / Report

Man jailed for life for murdering pensioner with sweeping brush

Date
2014-01-24

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

A Limerick man, Christopher McNamara, aged 21, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of retired soldier James Boyce, aged 71, who was killed between 6 and 7 March 2011 on St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park. The court heard that Boyce suffered fatal neck injuries from a long striking edge, with multiple larynx fractures. McNamara pleaded not guilty but confessed to the killing to his mother and admitted choking Boyce with the handle of a sweeping brush, demonstrating the act. He allegedly gave his mother a 42‑inch television the day after the murder and purchased a Toyota Corolla with €1,100 in fifty‑euro notes believed to have been taken from Boyce that night. CCTV footage of McNamara's movements on the murder night was shown to a jury of five women and seven men, who returned a unanimous guilty verdict after one and a half hours of deliberation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for life for murdering pensioner with sweeping brush. Charges or matters: the murder of James Boyce (71) at St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park in Limerick between March 6 2011 and March 7 2011. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6 2011 Incident
March 7 2011 Incident
2014-01-24 Publication

Case subjects

Christopher McNamara

Defendant

Charges: the murder of James Boyce (71) at St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park in Limerick between March 6 2011 and March 7 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty