A 59-yr-old man has been handed a life sentence for murdering an elderly Irish pensioner in north London last May.
Peter Augustine was convicted earlier this month of killing and robbing John Mackey as the 87-year-old made his way home from a nearby supermarket and takeaway, reports RTE.
Mr Mackey, originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, moved to London as a teenager and later settled in the Finsbury Park area.
He was a bachelor and a beloved uncle to 22 nieces and nephews, reports RTE.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse imposed a 23-year term for the murder of John Mackey, along with an additional eight years for the robbery and a further four weeks for an unrelated theft on 3 May.
However, all of Augustine’s sentences will run concurrently with the life sentence, reports RTE.
Judge Whitehouse said Augustine will serve at least 22 years behind bars once time spent on remand is deducted.
He will only be released if a parole board determines he no longer presents a danger to the public, reports RTE.
“That day may never come,” she said, reports RTE.
Peter Augustine was not present in court for the sentencing.
In a refusal note, he claimed he suffered from a displaced disc in his back, reports RTE.
Judge Whitehouse noted that she had made various enquiries during the trial about his medical condition and was informed that he had been assessed as fit to attend court.
She chose to continue with the sentencing hearing, reports RTE.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Mackey’s niece Patricia Schan described the “shock and horror” his death brought upon the family.
She told the court about the anguish experienced by Mr Mackey’s siblings, who are now in their 80s, reports RTE.
Ms Schan also recounted how her uncle’s nephew Stephen, who shared a particularly close bond with him, had lost his only relative living in London.
Stephen had suffered life-changing injuries after an unprovoked attack when he was younger, and listening to the courtroom evidence had been especially difficult for him, reports RTE.
Ms Schan said she can still picture her uncle waiting at the top of the escalator for her during her visits to Archway in London.
She told the court that he was the “perfect uncle”, calling him funny and mischievous, reports RTE.
Last May, while walking home from his supermarket and takeaway trip, Mr Mackey was assaulted and robbed.
The 87-year-old, who relied on a walking stick, died from blunt-force trauma to his head and chest, reports RTE.
When Augustine was arrested at the Beaconsfield Hotel on 8 May, police found empty containers in his room that matched the items Mr Mackey had bought. It appeared the food had been eaten.
During questioning, Augustine said he picked the grocery bag off the ground after it was carried by the wind, reports RTE.
However, in court he told jurors he had lied in his police interview.
He said he snatched the bag from Mr Mackey’s hand and fled, reports RTE.
Augustine insisted he did not injure Mr Mackey and claimed he did not see the elderly man fall to the ground.
Despite denying both murder and robbery, Augustine was found guilty of both offences earlier this month, reports RTE.
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