A 24-year-old man is facing life in prison after he admitted murdering a vulnerable 76-year-old man in his home in Dublin almost two years ago.
Oliver Doran who lived in Sophia Housing in Cork Street, Dublin 8, attacked Kwok Ping Cheng with an axe in his living room at Robinson's Court in Cork Street in April 2021.
He initially denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty this afternoon. He will be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in April.
The body of Kwok Ping Cheng was found "covered in blood" in his sheltered accommodation at 10am on 29 April 2021.
Originally from China, the 76-year-old had lived in Ireland for some time and had family here.
He was known to friends as Chinese George and lived in sheltered accommodation at Robinsons Court.
Doran told the gardaí he attacked and killed Mr Cheng with an axe he brought from his own home between 28 and 29 April 2021.
The 24-year-old said he did not remember a lot of what happened because he had taken an intoxicant.
He fled the next day, first to Northern Ireland and then to England but was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder.
He initially denied the charge and the trial got under way but this afternoon changed his plea to guilty.
Defence counsel Michael Bowman said Doran wished to apologise to Mr Cheng's family for what had happened and asked for their forgiveness.
He said Doran was taking this step in the hope of giving them some closure and gave his lawyers a letter for the Cheng family.
Mr Justice David Keane said Doran had taken "a very unusual step" in a situation where he was very conscious of the pain and suffering he had caused.
He directed that a probation report and victim impact statements be prepared and remanded Mr Doran in custody for sentencing in April, when the mandatory term of life in prison is due to be imposed.
