A man has been jailed for 20 years for killing a teenage girl in Dublin last year. Melanie McCarthy-McNamara was shot dead as she sat in the back of a parked car at Brookview Way in Tallaght.

Mr. Justice Paul Carney ordered silence in his courtroom after Melanie's supporters began cheering when the verdict was handed down.

Her killer, 24-year-old Keith Hall of Kilmartin Drive in Tallaght, kept his head bowed throughout the entire sentence hearing. The father of one was due to stand trial for her murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter claiming she was not the intended target.

On Febuary 7th 2012, 16-year-old Melanie had been sitting in the back of a parked car at Brookview Way when a black jeep pulled up beside it. Witnesses saw a shotgun appear from the window and two shots were fired into the back of the car before it sped away.

Melanie's family outside court

Melanie was hit once in the head and was rushed to hospital where she later died from severe brain injuries.

The jeep was found abandoned on Citywest Road some time later and the weapon as well as some clothes and surgical clothes were found nearby. Hall says he has not been able to sleep since Melanie was killed and sees her face every time he closes his eyes.

An application to have a part of his sentence was rejected and he was taken away to begin a 20-year jail term.

Her mother, Melissa, spoke after the sentence was passed.

Pictured above: Melanie McCarthy-McNamara (right) & her cousin, Lisa