Dublin man jailed for six years in manslaughter case

A 24-year-old Dublin man received a six-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of a man who was kicked and stamped to death in a vicious row on St Stephen’s Green last April.

At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Thomas Corway, with an address in Coolock, Dublin was jailed for the unlawful killing of Mr Patrick (Paddy) Pepper on April 9, 2002 at the Wolf Tone monument at St Stephen's Green, Dublin. Last October Corway pleaded guilty to the charge.

Sentencing Corway, Mr Justice Paul Carney said that the "extreme level of violence in the case" had come about as a result of the combination of the abuse of cannabis and alcohol.

Mr Pepper, originally from Ringsend, Dublin was 40 years old and was living in Ranelagh at time of his death. Det Sgt Michael Fitzgerald told the court that Corway admitted his part in the killing and told gardai he attacked Mr Pepper because he had threatened to smash a bottle over his head when he asked him for some of his drink.

"I think I cracked him in the head, I just started hitting him in the head with my fists and kicking him," Corway told gardai. "When I knocked him out, I just kept kicking - I didn’t think he was dead, I just thought he wasn’t moving.

Corway was drinking in the park with Mr Pepper and another man Robert Whelan who alerted the gardai to the scene, where Mr Pepper died shortly after Corway had fled. A garda investigation was launched and Corway was arrested in Finglas three days later.

Forensic evidence showed that the deceased was subjected to a "ferocious assault" in which his head and chest were kicked and stamped on. He died from the inhalation of blood as a result of serious facial injuries consistent with stamping on his face. Both his jaws were broken and boot-marks on his chest showed the "enormous force" used in the attack, Det Sgt Fitzgerald said.

Mr Pepper was separated and although he spent some nights on the streets he was in another relationship at the time of his death. His sister was in court today to hear the sentence.

Defence counsel, Mr Hugh Hartnett SC told the court that Corway had an unhappy family life and had been in contact with the psychiatric services from the age of six years. He appealed for the judge to take his guilty plea and remorse into account.

Mr Justice Carney agreed to suspend 18 months of the sentence.