BREAKING: Athy man found guilty of gun murder in the town

A 44-year-old man has been found guilty by unanimous verdict of murdering 22-year-old Jason Doogue in Athy last year.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court took just over two hours and 30 minutes to reach their verdict.

James 'Jimmy' Lammon, of Cardington Way, Athy (pictured with red hoodie) had been charged with the murder of Mr Doogue in the Greenhills area of Athy on 21 August 2015.

Members of Mr Doogue's family embraced and some broke down in tears once the verdict was known.

The family will make an impact statement this afternoon before Justice Paul Butler hands down the mandatory life sentence.

Justice Butler thanked the jury for their service and exempted them from duty for ten years.

After a brief break Mr Doogue’s sister Stephanie took the stand and told the court that Jason was the “best brother in the world” and a “loving uncle and best friend”.

She said he “took a very big part of all of us with him” when he died and would forever be in the thoughts of his family and friends.

Those who knew Jason would pass on his memory to the younger generation of the family, “because they will never have a chance to know him” she said, adding that he had many goals, but all opportunity was taken from him.

Detective Sergeant John Boland told the court Lammon has 20 previous convictions, including drugs offences, possession of a stun gun, breaches of the Public Order Acts, violent disorder, criminal damage and larceny.

Mr Justice Butler described the killing as “brutal and pre-meditated” and said “there is only one sentence” before handing down the mandatory life sentence.

He backdated it to when Lammon went into custody on August 21st, 2015.

Garda Superintendent Martin Walker later thanked the investigation team and all the members of the public who assisted in the investigation and without whose help and co-operation, the matter would have not been so successfully concluded.