A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of an elderly Irish pensioner in north London last May.
Peter Augustine was found guilty earlier this month of murdering and robbing John Mackey as the 87-year-old walked home from his local supermarket and takeaway.
Mr Mackey was originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, but moved to London as a teenager, eventually settling down near Finsbury Park.
A bachelor, he was a much-loved uncle of 22 nieces and nephews.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse sentenced Peter Augustine to 23 years for the murder of John Mackey, along with 8 years in prison for the robbery of Mr Mackey, and four weeks for a separate theft involving a different person on 3 May.
However, Peter Augustine will serve these sentences concurrently with his murder sentence.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse said Augustine will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison when days in remand are subtracted.
He will only be released if a parole board agrees he no longer poses a risk to the public.
"That day may never come," she said.
Peter Augustine did not attend court today.
In his refusal notice, he claimed that he had a displaced disk in his back.
Judge Whitehouse pointed out that she had made several queries during the trial about Augustine's health and was told that he was medically assessed and was fit to attend court.
She chose to proceed with today's sentencing.
In a victim impact statement, John Mackey's niece Patricia Schan spoke of the "shock and horror" that his death caused the family.
She told the court of the distress caused to Mr Mackey's siblings, who are aged in their 80s.
Ms Schan also spoke of how Mr Mackey's nephew Stephen, who was particularly close with him, had lost his only relative in London.
Stephen had suffered life-changing injuries after being randomly attacked when he was young, and the evidence in court was particularly triggering.
Ms Schan said she could still picture her uncle standing at the top of the escalator, waiting for her, whenever she visited Archway in London, where he lived.
She told the court that he was the "perfect uncle", describing him as funny and mischievous.
Last May, as he walked home from his local supermarket and takeaway, Mr Mackey was beaten and robbed.
The 87-year-old, who used a walking stick, died from blunt-force impacts to his head and chest.
When Augustine was arrested at the Beaconsfield Hotel on 8 May, empty containers matching the groceries purchased by Mr Mackey were found in Augustine's hotel room. The food appeared to have been eaten.
Read more: John Mackey: The charming Irish pensioner murdered for his groceries
In a police interview, Augustine claimed that he picked the grocery bag off the ground after it was blown by the wind.
However, in court, he told the jury that he was lying during that police interview.
He said that he took the bag out of Mr Mackey's hand and ran.
Augustine insisted that he did not harm Mr Mackey and did not see the 87-year-old fall to the ground.
Augustine, who had denied the charges of murder and robbery, was found guilty on both counts earlier this month.
