No phone found on victim of fatal attack

A man who was killed after an allegation that he stole a phone did not have a phone on him when found unconscious on a Tallaght footbridge.

A sergeant gave the evidence yesterday during the sentence hearing of five Dubliners, who admit to Dale Creighton’s manslaughter on New Year’s Day morning 2014. Two others are being sentenced for lesser offences arising out of the same incident.

The court heard there had been an allegation that the 20-year-old had stolen a woman’s mobile phone.

He died in hospital the following day. The cause of his death was blunt force injury to his head and face.

The seven accused are Aisling Burke, aged 23, and David Burke, 28, both with a current address at Beechpark, Collinstown, Co Westmeath; Graham Palmer, 26, Park Avenue, Portarlington, Co Laois; Ross Callery, 23, Gortlum Cottages, Brittas, Co Dublin; James Reid, 26, Glen Aoibhinn, Gorey, Co Wexford; Jason Beresford, 23, Coill Diarmuida, Ard a’ Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare; and Gerard Stevens, 27, Grosvenor Square, Rathmines, Dublin.

Jason Beresford pleaded guilty to a violent disorder charge.

Aisling Burke has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the bridge that New Year’s Day morning.

Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke have pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

James Reid has pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

Sergeant Brian Cagney said Mr Creighton was not known to gardaí and had no mobile phone when he was found on the footbridge.

Tony McGillicuddy handed in a letter on behalf of Beresford and read out one paragraph: “I wish to apologise most sincerely to the Creighton family for my actions. To this day, I feel sick constantly for the harm i caused to their son.”

Sentencing decisions are not expected until January.