Man on run for 14 years jailed over role in fatal assault

A MAN who went on the run for 14 years after being involved in a fatal assault was jailed yesterday for his part in the crime.

Gregory Conway, aged 40, with an address in Dundalk, Co Louth, had been missing since 1992 when he was arrested in June 2006 in connection with the September 1991 death of Denis Quinlivan.

At Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, Conway pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully wounding Mr Quinlivan at Palm Court, Keys Park, Southill.

Mr Quinlivan died weeks after he was brutally assaulted in a garden in the estate.

Det Garda Mick Murphy told the court that another accused, Ger Doyle, was jailed for five years in 1992 for the manslaughter of Mr Quinlivan.

Det Garda Murphy said that when interviewed about the attack, Conway admitted kicking Mr Quinlivan and hitting him with a rock in an unprovoked assault.

Since his arrest, the court was told that Conway had sought a judicial review to prevent the case against him proceeding due to the delay in bringing the prosecution.

This application was rejected by the High Court and an appeal of this decision was further rejected by the Supreme Court.

The court was told that had Conway not pleaded guilty, the state would have difficulties with the case given that some witnesses had died and others could not recall the events of 17 years ago.

Judge Carroll Moran said the crime to which Conway had pleaded guilty carried a maximum five-year sentence.

Conway was entitled to a discount for pleading guilty and he jailed the accused for four years, backdated to June 22, 2006, when he was arrested and put into custody.