Man may face more charges in the US

AN Irishman acquitted of murder in the United States would chop off his right arm if it would bring back a man he threw overboard a party cruise ship, his defence lawyer said yesterday.

William Monaghan, whose family lives in Co Meath, remains in custody in San Francisco as prosecutors deliberate whether he should be charged again, this time with manslaughter.

The 27-year-old’s defence team will seek a settlement that could result in an involuntary manslaughter conviction, carrying sentences of probation to four years. They will also argue he should be set free having already spent eight months in prison.

Mr Monaghan, a carpenter working in the US for a number of years, was cleared of murdering 30-year-old computer animator Lionel Voillat following a week-long trial. Mr Voillat died after falling from the Royal Prince boat during a Hallowe’en party last October.

On Thursday night, after two days of deliberations, the 12-person jury brought back their verdict on the murder charge but were “hopelessly deadlocked” at 10-2 in favour of acquitting him of voluntary manslaughter.

The case has provoked huge interest in the west coast city, because of its large Irish community and Mr Voillat’s standing in San Francisco’s creative community.

After the verdict was delivered, Monaghan’s laywer Kenneth Quigley said his client was very upset the man had died and would “chop off his right arm” if he thought it would bring him back.