21-year-old Thomas Kennedy from Russell Heights in Cobh, Co Cork, has been given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of teenager Sheola Keaney in the town last July.
In her victim impact statement, Sheola's mother Carol spoke directly to her daughter.
She said: 'I lived for you from the moment you were born, I sometimes dream that I get to the place where you were murdered in time to save you, but I wake up and you are gone. All I can do for you now is look after your grave - this is not right.'
Her father, Peter, also addressed the court.
He said his role as a father was to mind her, protect her, guide her and love her: 'I did not always get it right but she was my reason for getting up in the morning,' Mr Keaney said.
As Kennedy was being brought away, Sheola's mother went into the public gallery to where his parents, Helen and Thomas, sat. As Kennedy's parents cried, she shook their hands and hugged them.
Outside, Peter appealed to the Government to make sufficient funding available for counselling for families traumatised by the murder of their loved ones.
