Darren Wynne sentenced to life for murdering Jamie Lindsay

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Darren Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his best friend Jamie Lindsay, 20. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed the sentence. The proceedings were reported on 23 July 2014.

Wynne had pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court. The killing took place at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, on 6 April 2013.

On 10 July, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the murder charge. Wynne was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.

During his trial, Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The DPP did not accept that plea.

Sentencing for the firearms offences was adjourned until November, when probation and psychological reports were to be before the court.

The report said Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in his right eye at almost point-blank range with a sawn-off shotgun after a background of mutual threats. Wynne told gardaí that Mr Lindsay had threatened him over €1,000 for missing cannabis herb and had also threatened to rape his grandmother. Wynne said he shot Mr Lindsay in the shoulder, had only wanted to kneecap him and did not mean to kill him.