A Co Antrim man has been jailed for 15 months for the manslaughter of a man he punched outside a bar in Rasharkin.
Malachy James Crawford (58), from Esdale Terrace in the Balnamore area of Ballymoney, will spend an additional 15 months for the attack on Paul O’Boyle outside Se Og’s bar last April.
Mr Justice O’Hara spoke of the difficulties the deceased man’s family have endured in coming to terms with his “sudden and senseless” death.
He said Mr O’Boyle’s loved ones regarded him as “the heart of the family” and that “the last 18 months have been truly miserable for them and the future may not be any easier.”
Prosecution counsel Laura Levers KC detailed the events of April 16, 2023.
Crawford, the 58-year-old victim Paul O’Boyle, his brother Colm O’Boyle and another man were all drinking in the bar.
Mr Justice O’Hara heard CCTV footage from inside the bar and an outside smoking area were central to the case.
”The footage focuses on events leading up to 10pm. Mr O’Boyle is seen at the bar and it is quite clear he is intoxicated,” said Ms Levers.
”There is no audio but it appears from the footage that Mr Paul O’Boyle is brooding at that time.
”Mr O’Boyle rolls and lights a cigarette, taps the defendant on the shoulder and headbutts him before walking out to the smoking area.
”The other males present appear shocked by Mr O’Boyle’s conduct. It is clear the defendant is injured.”
The court heard the victim’s brother Colm offered to go outside and speak with his brother, however, Crawford said it was OK and he would ‘sort it out’.
CCTV captured the victim having a smoke by a pole when the defendant approaches him and points to his head.
”Something is said between them and the defendant punches Mr O’Boyle with his left hand striking the victim to the right side of his face, causing him to fall backwards where his head hits the concrete ground.”
The senior prosecutor said another camera captured the defendant moving to the left side of Mr O’Boyle as he lies on his back and “deliberately strikes him again with his right hand.”
Mr O’Boyle was taken to hospital where he remained in intensive care but died eight days later on April 24, 2023 as the a result of a fatal brain injury.
During interviews with detectives, Crawford said he knew the deceased by his nickname ‘Fez’ and was “shocked” by the headbutt which he said was “unprovoked.”
He said he went out to the smoking area “not to do any harm” to Mr O’Boyle but wanted to let him know that he “couldn’t behave the way he had done’‘.
The defendant said he became annoyed because Mr O’Boyle appeared to be “nonchalant” when he spoke to him and he “did not hit him hard enough to do him any damage”
The prosecutor said Crawford, after watching the CCTV of the incident, expressed his remorse, telling detectives: “I deserve everything coming to me.”
Defence counsel Eilis McDermott KC told Mr Justice O’Hara: ”In the pre-sentence report, the defendant refers not only to the devastation he has caused to deceased’s family but also to the people in the village where they both lived.
”That is something that will never leave the defendant regardless of what penalty is imposed.”
She added that the headbutt on the defendant was “wholly unprovoked and completely unexpected.”