The jury in the Mitchelstown murder trial returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter after six hours and 11 minutes of deliberation.

The autopsy showed the victim’s nose had been completely flattened and seven front teeth were knocked out and two of them ended up in his airways.

The man on trial for murder shouted “I am the king of Mitchelstown”, a witness testified today, adding that his hand was left covered in blood after the accused shook hands with him that night.

Michael Dineen of Ard Mhuileann, Mitchelstown, was arraigned on the charge of murder of 36-year-old Patrick O’Donnell at Willie Andies bar on New Square, Mitchelstown, on June 1.

MORE than 50 people who held a protest outside the County Hall yesterday heard that Cork County Council is to take a mobile phone company to court to force it to remove a controversial mast.