A man has admitted killing 44-year-old Gerry Nolan in Co Kilkenny almost sixteen years ago.

Martin Kelly of Church Avenue in Castlecomer was charged with his murder but a plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter has been accepted.

Gerard, or Gerry Nolan as he was known to family and friends, lived in a caravan at the back of his childhood home in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.

The gardener’s mobile home went up in flames in the early hours of July 24th 2006.

At the time of the fire, it was reported that the door was locked, which hampered desperate efforts to rescue the 44yo gardener, who died inside.

Several people were arrested afterwards but it took another fourteen years for a suspect to emerge from a cold case investigation that was only opened in 2014.

Martin Kelly was charged with his murder two years ago and when he was arraigned in court this morning, he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

His plea to the lesser charge was accepted and his sentence hearing is due to take place in June.