Inquest told man was held in a ‘choke hold’

A MAN who died after he was ejected from a pub in Cork was allegedly held in a “choke hold” as he was escorted off the premises, an inquest in Cork heard yesterday.

Anthony ‘Farmer’ Hennessy, 41, of Chapel Field, Gurranabraher, Cork, collapsed and died outside Mo Chuisle pub on Blarney Street in March 2008.

Initial inquest proceedings in 2009 had heard he died from compression of the neck with acute alcohol consumption as a contributory factor.

At yesterday’s resumed inquest, witnesses described a group of men surrounding Mr Hennessy as he sat drinking at the bar in Mo Chuisle, playing bingo on March 13, 2008.

Witness Christine O’Brien said four or five “big men” circled in on Mr Hennessy and grabbed him, sending glasses smashing to the floor.

“They forced him onto the counter face down.

“There was a man either side of him and one behind him with his arm around his neck in a kind of a choke hold,” she said.

Mr Hennessy was then carried off the premises.

“They brought him out the door and his feet were not touching the floor, he was not reacting or fighting back or struggling,” Ms O’Brien said.

Richard Carey, who knew Mr Hennessy, told Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane he followed the group outside.

“One man had his right hand around Anthony’s neck. His face was red and his legs were limp. There was a man either side of him holding him up,” Mr Carey said.

He recalled hearing Mr Hennessy gurgling and said his eyes were wide open.

When asked how long his friend had been held in a choke position, Mr Carey said: “It seemed like an eternity to me; it was a substantial period of time, I’m guessing around 20 minutes.”

As gardaí arrived, Mr Hennessy was placed on the ground and Mr Carey took his pulse which he said was weak, while his temperature was dropping.

He waited with Mr Hennessy for an ambulance to arrive.

Garda Alan Johnson said Mr Hennessy had stopped at four bars along Sunday’s Well Road — and had been refused service at two — before arriving at the Mo Chuisle pub at 11.20pm.

“He was intoxicated but not falling around the place. He was not aggressive,” Garda Johnson said.

Meanwhile, two further witnesses will give evidence at a hearing on March 24 while state pathologist Dr Máire Cassidy is scheduled to testify on March 31.