Daniel McAnaspie’s family want his killers to “rot in hell”, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Daniel’s sister Nikita McAnaspie, told a sentence hearing for the man convicted of his murder that Daniel’s death had made their lives meaningless, adding: “We hate the people who did this.”

Richard Dekker (30), from the Blanchardstown area of Dublin, was found guilty last month of the murder of 17-year-old Daniel McAnaspie (pictured) at Tolka Valley Park on February 26, 2010.

The teenager’s decomposed body was found almost three months later in a farmer’s drain about 30 kilometres from where he was killed. He had been stabbed multiple times.

Trevor Noone (28), also from the Blanchardstown area of Dublin, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his part in Daniel’s death. A sentencing hearing for him will continue this afternoon.

At the sentence hearing for Dekker today Nikita spoke on behalf of her family. She said Dekker and Noone had taken their “beloved Daniel from us in the most tragic circumstances”.

When they heard Daniel was missing in February 2010 they immediately feared the worst and searched fields, parks and rivers hoping that he would return to them alive and well.

“While we searched, the people who killed him watched us,” she said. When it was found Daniel’s body was so badly decomposed the family could not see him and his coffin was closed at his funeral. She said he was a child who did not deserve to be murdered.

“We hope they rot in hell,” she added.

The hearing continues this afternoon in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy.