No justice for our son, say Brian Murphy’s parents

THE parents of Brian Murphy yesterday said there was “no justice” for their son after the only person convicted of his killing was told yesterday he was “free to go”.

Speaking outside the court where the DPP directed the manslaughter retrial of Dermot Laide to be dropped, Denis Murphy said the family had held a long meeting with the prosecuting council following the decision by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to abandon the retrial.

“We will digest what he said and formulate our thoughts and after that we might have something to say,” he said.

Mr Murphy said there was no justice for his eldest son six years after his death.

“Once you are dead, there is no justice for you, society can respond but there is no justice.”

He was in court with his wife, Mary, who did not comment following the court’s decision.

The couple had been present at all court sittings relating to their son’s death outside Dublin’s Club Anabel on August 31, 2000. They were in court each day of the six-week trial of Mr Laide in February 2004.

Their two daughters and young son were with them during yesterday’s brief sitting, and they walked out of the court room side by side.

The family have seen four men appear in court charged in connection with Brian’s death but Laide was the only one to be convicted with manslaughter.

However, a year later, in February 2005, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed Laide’s conviction saying it was “unsafe” and ordered a retrial.

That was due to begin yesterday, but was dropped on the direction of the DPP due to evidential difficulties.

Sean Mackey, 24, from Foxrock in Dublin was convicted of violent disorder on the night Mr Murphy died and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Desmond Ryan, from Dalkey in Dublin, was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of violent disorder.

His conviction was quashed on appeal in February 2005.

Laide’s school friend, Andrew Frame from Donnybrook, was acquitted on charges of manslaughter and violent disorder.