Man who killed pal with ‘Bruce Lee’ punches loses appeal

A father jailed for life for murdering his friend with what he described as ‘Bruce Lee’ punches because the victim “wouldn’t shut up” has lost a conviction appeal.

A Central Criminal Court jury found John Hannigan guilty of murdering Anthony Fallon, aged 46, in Clonmel on January 18, 2012, and of assault causing harm to the 46-year-old on the same date at Mr Fallon’s flat on Abbey St. Hannigan, aged 48, of River House, New Quay, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on February 28, 2014. He had pleaded not guilty.

The trial heard Hannigan had called an ambulance to River House shortly before 7am, telling the emergency services Mr Fallon had rung his doorbell and then collapsed. An autopsy found 31 separate fractures to Mr Fallon’s ribs, along with fractures to his collar and breast bones. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and trunk.