Murder victim had 31 fractures to his ribs

A father of two who was beaten to death after an argument suffered 31 fractures to his ribs as well as a broken collarbone and breastbone, an inquest heard yesterday.

Anthony Fallon, aged 46, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head and trunk, the inquest jury found after hearing evidence of what coroner Paul Morris described as “the most horrific incident I’ve heard in many a year”.

John Hannigan, aged 46, of River House, Clonmel, was convicted of the murder at the Central Criminal Court earlier this year.