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Man jailed over partner's murder Man jailed over partner's murder
(about 3 hours later)
A 50-year-old man who admitted beating his partner to death with an iron bar in her north Belfast flat has been jailed for a minimum of 13 years.A 50-year-old man who admitted beating his partner to death with an iron bar in her north Belfast flat has been jailed for a minimum of 13 years.
The emergency services found Roseanna Lonergan's badly beaten body at her Brookfield Court home in January 2005.The emergency services found Roseanna Lonergan's badly beaten body at her Brookfield Court home in January 2005.
Joseph Patrick Doherty, of Strathroy Park in Belfast, was arrested at the scene.Joseph Patrick Doherty, of Strathroy Park in Belfast, was arrested at the scene.
He confessed to killing Ms Lonergan when arrested and later during a police interview at Antrim station.He confessed to killing Ms Lonergan when arrested and later during a police interview at Antrim station.
A lawyer for the prosecution told Belfast Crown Court the relationship between the accused and the deceased was "tempestuous and violent" and said neighbours had made complaints about the couple's behaviour in the past.A lawyer for the prosecution told Belfast Crown Court the relationship between the accused and the deceased was "tempestuous and violent" and said neighbours had made complaints about the couple's behaviour in the past.
He said that after receiving the 999 call from Doherty, the emergency services arrived at Ms Lonergan's flat where they found her body in the living room.He said that after receiving the 999 call from Doherty, the emergency services arrived at Ms Lonergan's flat where they found her body in the living room.
The court heard that clumps of Ms Lonergan's hair torn from her head were found, while forensic examinations of blood at the scene indicated she had been attacked in more than one place in the living room. 'Vicious attack' The court heard that clumps of Ms Lonergan's hair torn from her head were found, while forensic examinations of blood at the scene indicated she had been attacked in more than one place in the living room.
'Vicious attack'
The lawyer said: "It was clearly a sustained, deliberate and vicious attack that resulted in her death."The lawyer said: "It was clearly a sustained, deliberate and vicious attack that resulted in her death."
Doherty's defence lawyer said his client had a long history of drink and drugs abuse and that when the couple got together in 2001, they "both drank to excess", adding their relationship was "marred by altercations during which each gave as good as they got".Doherty's defence lawyer said his client had a long history of drink and drugs abuse and that when the couple got together in 2001, they "both drank to excess", adding their relationship was "marred by altercations during which each gave as good as they got".
He said that in the days prior to the murder, Doherty had been drinking constantly, had eaten nothing and that when arrested, his client was in a "wretched physical and emotional state".He said that in the days prior to the murder, Doherty had been drinking constantly, had eaten nothing and that when arrested, his client was in a "wretched physical and emotional state".
He also revealed Doherty had "very little recollection" of what happened in the flat.He also revealed Doherty had "very little recollection" of what happened in the flat.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Morgan acknowledged that alcohol had featured prominently in the relationship between the accused and the deceased.Passing sentence, Mr Justice Morgan acknowledged that alcohol had featured prominently in the relationship between the accused and the deceased.
Noting the numerous injuries Ms Lonergan sustained, the judge said: "It is clear that the attack was pursued at several locations within the flat.Noting the numerous injuries Ms Lonergan sustained, the judge said: "It is clear that the attack was pursued at several locations within the flat.
"That indicates its persistence and the use of the metal bar to kill the deceased against that background leaves me satisfied that at the very least there was an intention to inflict grievous injury on her.""That indicates its persistence and the use of the metal bar to kill the deceased against that background leaves me satisfied that at the very least there was an intention to inflict grievous injury on her."