Home / Crime and Justice / Son Gets Life for Mother's Brutal Murder
Son Gets Life for Mother's Brutal Murder
28 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Son convicted of murdering his 75-year-old mother.
- Victim found dead in her County Kerry home in August 2022.
- Killer sentenced to life imprisonment after guilty verdict.
In County Kerry, a man has received a life sentence for the murder of his mother. Miriam Burns, aged 75, was found dead in her Killarney home on August 15, 2022. Her 55-year-old son, Billy Burns, had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
A unanimous jury verdict found the son guilty of murder. At the Criminal Courts of Justice, Judge Karen O'Connor presided over the sentencing. The court heard evidence detailing the violent nature of Mrs. Burns' death.
During the proceedings, the judge commended the victim's family for their resilience. She noted their "extraordinary dignity and composure at all times" while facing the harrowing details of the case. The conviction and sentence bring a close to this tragic chapter.
