A Dublin man has been handed a life sentence for the murder of an elderly man at a senior citizens’ complex in Dublin.

Kenneth Cummins of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4 tried unsuccessfully to have his guilty plea withdrawn.

Sabrina Cummins is serving a life sentence for murdering Thomas Horan at the Cambridge Court complex for senior citizens in Ringsend, Dublin in January 2014.

Her brother Kenneth, who also went on trial for murder, changed his plea to guilty just before the jury was sent out, but later applied to have it withdrawn.

That application was rejected and his sentence hearing took place today.

Thomas Horan tortured during the robbery. The siblings beat him, broke several of his ribs with a stick, suffocated him with a plastic bag and strangled him with a belt.

Kenneth Cummins initially tried to blame the crime on his older sister.

In her Victim Impact Statement, Mr Horan’s former wife Marge said she would not be in a home if Thomas was still alive. She said she still dreams about him.

Both siblings are now serving the mandatory life sentence for murder.