A 35-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering John O'Connor in New Ross, Co Wexford, on New Year's Eve 2024.
Wayne Roche, previously of Dominic's Place in Waterford city, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr O'Connor on 31 December 2024.
The accused had been in a relationship with Mr O'Connor's daughter at the time the alleged offence occurred.
The court heard that the couple had just learned they were expecting a child.
Roche and Mr O'Connor had been celebrating this fact at the latter's flat in the Cluain Fada housing estate in New Ross on the night of 30 December.
A third man, Michael Bancewicz, who had been staying at Mr O'Connor's flat at the time, was also drinking with the two men.
Mr Bancewicz previously told the court that the accused had begun acting "aggressively" on the night in question.
He said Mr Roche returned from the kitchen with a knife and stabbed himself in the leg before spreading the blood on his face "like in Braveheart".
Giving evidence, Mr Bancewicz said he subsequently left the property after Mr Roche started hitting and punching him as he thought "it was going very wrong".
The court heard that on the morning of 31 December 2024, Mr O'Connor was found covered in blood on the floor of his one-bed first-floor apartment by his daughter, who called the emergency services.
Mr O'Connor, who was 58, was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
Unanimous guilty verdict
Dean Kelly SC for the prosecution previously told the court that it was the State's case that at some point between 30 and 31 December, "not observed by any other person", the accused "violently assaulted" Mr O'Connor.
Ultimately, the jury of four men and eight women agreed with him.
The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the charge of murder this afternoon after deliberating for three hours and ten minutes.
The trial first opened before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford three weeks ago on Friday 24 April.
It heard from over 60 witnesses including several members of the more than 100 garda investigation team that was led out of New Ross Garda Station.
Roche to be sentenced to life in prison in June
This afternoon, Mr Justice McGrath told the members of the jury that this had been a "very difficult case".
He said that the jury had undertaken a "very onerous public service" and had sat in the jury box for a long time had paid "great attention" to the evidence put before them.
The judge thanked the members of the jury for their service and he excused them from jury duty for ten years.
Mr Justice McGrath then adjourned sentencing to 15 June to allow for the preparation of victim impact statements and the relevant reports.
The sentence hearing will take place in Dublin on that date when Roche will receive the mandatory life sentence for murder.
Members of Mr O'Connor's family applauded after the verdict was announced this afternoon, as Roche was led away from the dock into the precinct of the court.
Speaking outside Waterford Courthouse afterwards, Mr O'Connor's sister, Deirdre, said the family was "very happy" with the outcome of the three-week trial.
Ms O'Connor said: "The outcome today, for us as a family, is we feel that justice was served for the murder of John O'Connor."
