Pair get 17 years for beating man to death

TWO men were jailed by Limerick Circuit Court yesterday for a total of 17 years for their part in battering a man to death.

Tony O’Brien, aged 24, of Baker Place, who denied the manslaughter of Keith Ryan, was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 10 years.

Thomas Ryan, aged 25, of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, received seven years.

The mother of the dead man protested at the sentences handed down, saying her son would have been turning only 33 when the two men who killed him would come to be free.

Shouting at Judge Carroll Moran, she said: “You are telling people go on and murder, that is what you are doing.”

Keith Ryan from Farranshone, Limerick was 23 when he died violently at the hands of his attackers.

Outlining the facts of the case, Judge Moran said a number of people had gathered near Shannon Bridge on May 25, 2006.

The two accused and a third person acted in consort and had been drinking.

Keith Ryan who had a lot of drink was among those who had gathered near the bridge that evening.

At dusk, the two accused and the third man said they were going to a house party in Pennywell and as they left, the deceased went to follow them to the party.

At steps near the bridge Keith Ryan was assaulted after which the two accused and the third man ran to town and were captured on CCTV.

After getting to the house in Pennywell they admitted being involved in an attack on Mr Ryan, with O’Brien saying he had a ‘dig’ at Ryan.

They asked a woman at the house to be their alibi and, taking off their socks and runners, asked for them to be cleaned.

Judge Moran said the background to the attack was unclear, but there had been a certain degree of bad feeling between Tony O’Brien and the deceased. There had been an altercation in the days prior to the attack.

A report by the State Pathologist indicated the dead man had received extensive injuries to the face and sustained a broken nose after he was stamped on.

The medical report indicated he died after choking on inhaled blood.

There was little evidence of defensive injuries, suggesting Mr Ryan had been overcome rapidly and had been unable to attempt to protect himself.

A blood sample showed the deceased had an alcohol reading of 260mg — the legal driving limit is 80mg.

O’Brien had 42 previous convictions and Ryan had four, one of which related to an attack on a parish priest outside Limerick city, for which he received a sentence of six years.