Two peace activists jailed for manslaughter

Two peace activists were jailed today for their part in the savage bashing of a Portugese man in Co Waterford last year.

Steven Job, (aged 31) and Graeme Turnbull, (aged 36), both new age travellers, were convicted of manslaughter over the bashing of Sergio Abru in a late-night row in a caravan park at Clashanahy near Ardmore.

Job, with an address at Whiting Bay, Ardmore, Co Waterford, was sentenced to 7 years' jail, with 3 years suspended.

Turnbull, with an address at Ballyhooley Rd in Cork, was sentenced to 7 years' jail with two-and-a-half years suspended.

Mr Abru died after he was beaten by Job, Turnbull and another new age traveller, Stuart Spicer, (aged 28), with an address at Ballyquin, c/o Ardmore post office.

Spicer was sentenced to life last month for Mr Abru's murder.

The court heard today the three men and Mr Abru became involved in a fight on the night of September 6, 2002, over the victim's treatment of his girlfriend Miriam Rooney and her son.

Mr Abru was punched and kicked by the trio, and struck by Spicer with a blunt instrument, and was dragged to a nearby field and left for dead, the court heard.

Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins said he accepted Job and Turnbull were not violent people and were unlikely to pose a threat to the public in future, but he said he must also consider a man had been killed in a serious attack.

"There's a person dead as a result of a protracted assault which continued when he was unable to defend himself," he said.

The judge refused leave to appeal the sentences.