Man, 21, guilty in hurley killing

A MAN has been found guilty of the manslaughter of another man who died nine days after being struck with a hurley during a late-night incident in a city park.

Martin O’Brien, aged 21, with an address at Flat 4, 128 The Quay, Waterford, was convicted yesterday at Waterford Circuit Court of the unlawful killing of Damien Organ, aged 25, at the People’s Park in Waterford.

Mr Organ died on April 1, 2010 after spending nine days in a coma after suffering a bleed to the brain caused by a hurley blow to the side of the neck.

O’Brien was also found guilty of assaulting Damien Organ and assaulting his brother Liam, aged 28, causing them harm.

A co-accused, Kieron Deegan, aged 20, of the same address, was found not guilty of manslaughter and not guilty of assaulting Liam Organ, but guilty of assaulting Damien Organ.

Sentencing in the case was adjourned by Judge Rory McCabe until May 10, to allow for the preparation of probation reports.

The judge remanded O’Brien in custody to that date and remanded Kieron Deegan on continuing bail.

After the trial ended, the family of the late Damien Organ declined to speak to the media. “No comment,” said Liam Organ when approached by reporters.

O’Brien showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out against him, while Kieron Deegan hugged members of his family after being acquitted on the manslaughter charge.

During the six-day trial evidence was heard that an argument started between Liam Organ and his ex-girlfriend Kate Clancy over €400 he had borrowed from her. O’Brien, Kate’s friend, got involved and the three were sending angry texts on the evening and night of Sunday, March 21 of last year.

Eventually, Mr Organ and O’Brien met at the People’s Park some time after 11.30pm. Kieron Deegan, Kate Clancy and two other women accompanied O’Brien and there were two hurleys and a hockey stick in the group’s possession.

Liam Organ and Kate Clancy started arguing and O’Brien told gardaí the day after the incident he thought Liam was going to hit Kate.

He then hit Liam with a hurley and heard Damien shouting his name. When he turned Damien was running towards him with an implement in his hand and he hit Damien on the side of the neck with the hurley, and hit him again as he hit the ground.