A THIRD MAN was today convicted of murdering a 64-year-old in his home by a unanimous jury verdict.

Sean Davy, (21), of Clonmullen Drive, Edenderry, Co Offaly, James Davy (25), of Thornhill Meadows, Celbridge, Co Kildare and Matthew Cummins (22), of Churchview Heights, Edenderry had pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas ‘Toddy’ Dooley at Sr Senan Court in Edenderry on February 12, 2014.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court found Sean Davy and James Davy guilty yesterday and today they returned a guilty verdict for Matthew Cummins. They had spent a total of nine hours and 49 minutes considering the decisions after a three-week trial.

Justice Margaret Heneghan thanked the jury for their service, their attention and their patience saying that they had listened to some “gruesome details”.

“Watching you, I can see it has been a little more difficult for some than for others,” she said. She exempted them from further jury service for life.

She added: “I want to extend my deepest and most sincere sympathy to the family of Mr Thomas Dooley.”

The three men face mandatory life sentences but Justice Heneghan postponed formally sentencing them until October 10. She ordered an education and urinalysis report for Matthew Cummins and a psychiatric report for James Davy be made available on that date and remanded all three in custody.