A 45-year-old man has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing for the killing of Patrick McCormack whose body was kept in a freezer for five years.
In June 2007, Edward Griffin admitted to gardaí that he killed a man and kept his body in a fish shop freezer for five years.
The 45-year-old, with an address at Cappagh Road, Barna, Galway, admitted killing Patrick McCormack in 2002 following a row about money.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul Carney heard that the defendant had claimed in statements that the deceased had called to the fish shop in Galway and demanded money.
Mr Griffin gave Mr McCormack £13,000 but was told it was not enough.
He said he went to the freezer to get some but Mr McCormack wanted more. The defendant said the victim threatened to cut off most of his fingers and attack some of his family.
As the defendant turned to go, he claims he was hit on the head by Mr McCormack with a wheel brace.
The court heard that a fight ensued in which Mr McCormack died.
A post mortem examination revealed that he had 17 separate injuries on his body. The defendant had one head wound.
The court heard that Mr Griffin hid the body at the back of the freezer, cleaned up the area and then drove the deceased's car to Shannon to pretend Mr McCormack had left the country.
However, the body remained hidden in the freezer until it was discovered in 2007.
Det Sgt Willie Beirne who investigated the case told the court that the defendant had claimed Mr McCormack said he wanted more money and if he did not get it he would cut off all but one of Mr Griffin's finger. That finger would be left to make a phone call.
The Court was told that Mr McCormack was well known to gardaí, had received a five year sentence for possession of a firearm and had been shot by gardaí during a failed armed raid.
Patrick McCormack's two daughters said in victim impact statements that their father had been loving and kind to them and they were devastated when he disappeared. They had suffered even more when his body was discovered in a freezer, they said.
Counsel for the State argued that sentencing should be at the upper end of the scale because of the severity of the attack, the fact a weapon was used, and that the body was concealed.
However, the defence team argued that it had been a fight to the death and that the first man to fall was never going to get up.
Mr Griffin felt he was damned if he reported the death at the time because he believed there would be retribution on his family. His defence team claims he was damned if he did not because it would compromise his own position.
However, he feels great remorse for what happened and it has dominated his life since then.
Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded Mr Griffin in custody for sentencing next Friday in Cloverhill Court.
