A criminal gang member who kept look out while another man was beaten and shot dead has been sentenced to ten years in prison with the final two suspended.
Ross Allen, 25, with an address at Ballyogan, Carrickmines, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Christy Daly on Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly in December 2013.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said ten years was the least sentence he could impose but because of Allen's extremely sad life and the prospect of rehabilitation he suspended the final two years.
The father-of-two was taken from his drug addicted mother as a baby and placed in various foster homes.
He was homeless aged 17 and has 25 previous convictions.
Allen was a member of a criminal gang based in Clara, which was connected to a drugs gang in Clondalkin in Dublin.
He had hidden €30,000 worth of drugs on Bog Lane and when he returned to get them at 2.30am on 29 December they were gone.
Daly, a convicted criminal who had just got out of prison, lived nearby on his own in a caravan.
The 47-year-old had little money, but when he suddenly began buying cars and spending money, the gang suspected he had stolen their drugs.
Allen procured a car for the gang, and weapons, including a hammer from his flat, and a sawn-off shot gun.
He kept lookout while the others attacked Daly.
They beat him in what was described as a savage attack and shot him eight times.
Afterwards Allen was ordered by the gang leader to burn the car.
He claimed he was in fear for his life and was afraid he would be blamed for the loss of the drugs.
He said he did not know Daly was going to be killed.
