A judge at the Central Criminal Court in Cork has jailed a 32-year old man for life for an attack which she described as "the stuff of nightmares".
David O'Loughlin of Garden City Apartments, North Main Street, Cork, was found guilty of murder by unanimous verdict of the jury at the court for the second time.
The verdict in his first trial was quashed and a re-trial ordered.
Liam Manley was a 59-year-old man who was loved by his family, but whose drink problem forced him to rely on the services of the Simon Community in Cork.
On 12 May 2013, he was at an apartment on the fourth floor of the Garden City complex with O'Loughlin, who lived there.
Sometime after 6am, O'Loughlin attacked Mr Manley, punching him repeatedly with full force.
Later, Mr Manley struggled before O'Loughlin pushed him head first down a refuse chute, which extended from the fourth floor to the ground floor.
Mr Manley fell more than 12 metres and ended up trapped in the chute.
He died of a combination of factors, including pressure asphyxia.
O'Loughlin told investigating gardaí he was on a two-day alcohol and tablets bender. He denied murder.
A guilty verdict in his first trial was quashed because the jury was allowed to visit the scene at the apartment complex during their deliberations.
The second unanimous guilty verdict today came after two hours of deliberations, to the relief of Mr Manley's family.
His sister Mary Lynch described Mr Manley as the quietest man ever. She said he got justice today.
Ms Justice Tara Burns described Mr Manley as a frail, defenceless, shy man.
She said the assault on him by O'Loughlin was vicious and the manner in which his body had been put in a rubbish chute was the stuff of nightmares.
She sentenced O'Loughlin to life in prison.
