Life sentence for man who murdered Sligo pensioner in his home
A 30-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of Sligo pensioner Eugene Gillespie, who was found beaten and tied up in his own home.
Simon McGinley of Connaughton Road Car Park, Sligo, denied the charge, but had pleaded guilty to burglary, false imprisonment and manslaughter in September 2012.
Eugene Gillespie, 67, was beaten and tied up during a burglary at his home on September 19, 2012.
The following day, his attacker Simon McGinley alerted emergency services in a 999 call that there was a man tied up in a house - but gardaí went to the wrong address.
It was not until the following day that the pensioner was found lying in the hallway of his home by his brother and nephew. He died in hospital the following day.
His niece, Aisling Tinsley, today called it a "primitive, savage attack" and said her uncle's "swollen torn body" was unrecognisable.
Simon McGinley, who has 21 previous convictions, admitted the manslaughter but the DPP did not accept the plea and today he was convicted of murder.
The jury took less than five hours to reach a verdict.
