Violent murderer of wonderful mum jailed for life

Son, 55, strangled 75yr-old Miriam at home

- BY FIONA MAGENNIS

Miriam Burns died at her home

A MAN has been sentenced to life for the "violent" murder of his "wonderful" and "hardworking" mother whom he strangled to death at her home.

Billy Burns, 55, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 75-year-old Miriam Burns, but a jury unanimously rejected that defence earlier this week.

The 12 jurors accepted the prosecution's case the actions of Burns stemmed not from mental illness but from his "long-term abuse of drugs and alcohol" and anger towards his mother.

The trial heard that Burns had been aggressive and violent towards Ms Burns since he was a teenager and on one occasion broke her jaw.

Burns had denied to gardai any involvement in his mother's death, told lies about his movements on the day and made deliberate attempts to destroy evidence related to the killing, the prosecution also argued.

Ms Justice Karen O'Connor yesterday sentenced Burns to the mandatory term of life.