A man who murdered a teenager in a 'street battle' in Enniskillen has been told he must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before being considered for parole
A man who murdered a teenager in a "street battle" in Enniskillen has been told he must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison.
"It is important that the court and the defendant realise and understand the extent of the damage that has been caused to Rose McDonagh and her family due to John Paul's traumatic and unnecessary death," the judge said. He also told police at the time that he was sorry for what happened and never intended to kill anyone.The father-of-three was also found unanimously guilty of wounding Gerard McDonagh during the same incident, possessing two weapons, namely a slash hook and bottle of ammonia, and a charge of causing an affray.A defence barrister said Joyce had acted with "excessive self-defence" and "the trouble and violence was brought to his door and he reacted".
As well as the 10-year minimum tariff for murder, Joseph Joyce was given a five-year concurrent prison sentence for causing grievous bodily harm to Gerard McDonagh. Several members of the McDonagh family are due to be sentenced on a separate date for a variety of offences arising from the same incident.