by John Cassidy
A north Antrim man has been jailed for life for the murder of another man in Ballycastle more than two years ago.
36 year old Christopher Keenan of Broombeg View, in the resort will learn later in the year how long he will serve behind bars without parole for the murder of Anthony McErlaine.
48-year-old Mr. McErlaine a father of two was found dead at a flat in Ballycastle in January 2016.
At the time police said Mr McErlaine had suffered a "traumatic and frightening death''.
Keenan appeared at Antrim Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, and entered a plea of guilty to the murder charge.
Mr Justice Colton sentenced him to a mandatory term of life in prison.
The judge remanded him in custody ahead of the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Keenan will appear again at the same court on Friday, May 4, 2018 when a tariff hearing will be held to determine how long he should spend in custody before being released.
In November last year, his uncle, John Keenan (51), also of Broombeg View, Ballycastle, walked free from court after Mr Justice Colton ruled he should not stand trial for Mr McErlaine's murder.
His defence lawyers argued that he had "no case to answer'' as he was asleep during the time when Mr McErlaine was assaulted and played no part in the attack on him.
The prosecution contended that circumstanial evidence in the case, along with "lies'' Keenan told to police at interview, were sufficient grounds to put him on trial in front of a properly directed jury.
However, Mr Justice Colton said that after carefully considering submissions from both the defence and prosecution, he had decided that there was "insufficent evidence to put the defendant on trial'' and ordered him to be set free.
Anthony McErlaine, a father-of-two, was a labourer who had spent many years living over the border in the Republic of Ireland.
He had also worked on the building of the Channel Tunnel and had worked for a construction company in Dunloy, Co Antrim.
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