by Andrew Carey
TWO men have started life sentences for the murder of 43-year-old Ger McMahon in January 2012 while a third will be sentenced later this month for impeding the Garda investigation.
Paul Colbert (46) and Sean Flanagan (28) pleaded not guilty to the murder at Lenihan Avenue in Limerick city last year but, following an four week trial and two days of deliberations, a jury found them both guilty.
They began mandatory life sentences this week while a third man, Sean Flanagan’s brother, Ian Flanagan (24) will be sentenced later this month after he was found guilty of impeding the Garda investigation into the fatal stabbing on the same date.
Gardai were called to the scene on Lenihan Avenue where they found Mr McMahon with multiple stab wounds. He was later pronounced dead.
During the trial, the court was told that Mr McMahon was attacked by Sean Flanagan and Paul Colbert as he walked to a relative’s house on Lenihan Avenue.
Mr McMahon suffered the fatal wounds from the accused men using a hatchet and a knife.
Medical evidence concluded that Mr McMahon was the victim of 13 stab wounds, the majority of which were inflicted to his head.
The court was told that Ian Flanagan removed CCTV footage from a recording device at his home for fear it would be harvested in the Garda investogation.
After 11 hours of deliberating, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all three men.
Mr Justice Garret Sheehan imposed mandatory life sentences on the two men found guilty of murder and adjourned the sentencing of Ian Flanagan to December 11 next.
