Posted online: Nov 20th, 2008

Two men have admitted their involvement in the killing and robbery of 22-year-old Kinlough native Liam McGowan in Dublin more than two years ago.
They will be sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a date yet to be fixed.
On Monday Michael Carroll (22), a €250-a-week apprentice carpenter, of Lower Dominick St, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr McGowan on August 20th, 2006.
Jobless Anthony Carroll (25), of St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin, and who is not related to the other defendant, pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McGowan on the same date.
Their guilty pleas came just before a jury was sworn in for their trial. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded them for mention of the case later when a date for sentence will be set.
Mr McGowan died in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, after spending three weeks on a life-support machine following the assault in the early hours of the morning near his apartment.
His mobile phone and €40 were taken after he was knocked to the ground.
He had worked at Eagle Star insurance company, and was discovered lying on the street unconscious at the junction of Hardwicke Street and Frederick Court in Dublin’s north inner city.
He had moved to Dublin only a short while earlier after graduating with a commerce degree from NUI Galway.
His parents are retired ESB worker Martin, and Maureen, a nurse.
He is survived by two older brothers, Padraic and Raymond, and his girlfriend at the time, Laura Gavigan from Bundoran.