Boston bar owner ‘failed to help’ hurt UCC student
The student, named by US media as Dylan Fitzgibbon, attended court yesterday wearing a black helmet needed to help his ongoing recovery from the incident.
The young Irishman was found clinging to life on a street in Boston on May 23. Initially police thought he had been the victim of a serious assault. However, as they investigated, it became clear the injuries may have been sustained in a fall down the stairs at the nearby ‘Roggie’s Sports Bar’.
The bar owner, John Rogaris, has, according to the Boston Globe, pleaded not guilty to charges of destruction of evidence, witness intimidation, and two counts of misleading police.
In court yesterday, prosecutor David Bradley said a Roggie’s employee “went down the main staircase to use the basement bathroom and discovered the underage victim unconscious at the bottom of the stairs”.
It is alleged that Mr Rogaris ordered employees to carry the young man, who, at 20 years of age was under the legal drinking age of 21 years, outside the bar.
He was discovered by a passerby half and hour later.
It is alleged Mr Rogaris later interfered in the police investigation by saying surveillance footage on the night in question was not available. However, officers uncovered video showing two people carrying an unconscious person out of the bar.
Furthermore the prosecutor told the court Mr Rogaris visited a witness and promised to take care of him financially if he “took the fall for him”.
The victim’s attorney, Bill Dailey, told reporters: “He remembers gathering with friends and going out, but that’s it. Then he remembers being in hospital.
“There is a long road ahead. He had a very, very bad brain injury, a very, very bad neck injury.”
It is understood Mr Fitzgibbon was visiting Boston for a work programme as part of his studies at UCC.
Mr Rogaris is due back in court next month.
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