A Dublin man has been found guilty of murdering his friend, whose remains were found in a shallow grave in County Kildare five years ago.

Stephen Penrose of Newtown Court, Malahide Road in Coolock represented himself at one point during his trial after firing his legal team.

Philip Finnegan’s remains were found by a dogwalker at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on September 2nd, 2016 - three weeks after he was reported missing.

The 24-year-old had been stabbed to death and his body was decapitated. The jurors heard there were also attempts to burn his remains.

Blood found on a glove buried in an “underground fire pit” near Philip’s shallow grave linked Stephen Penrose to the crime but he denied any involvement.

After dismissing his legal team, Penrose represented himself in the early stages of his trial – during which time he cross-examined Philip’s mother and accused the lead investigator of lying under oath during an outburst that led to the judge threatening to send him to the cells if he didn’t behave himself.

He refused to attend court thereafter and the dock was empty again today when the jury found him guilty of murder.

He will be handed the mandatory life sentence for his friend’s murder next month.