Former Blackrock students jailed in Anabel's case

Three former pupils of one of Ireland’s most prestigious schools were jailed today after a teenager was beaten to death in a drunken brawl.

The former Blackrock College pupils were jailed at Dublin’s Circuit Criminal Court following the death of Brian Murphy outside a Dublin nightclub.

Dermot Laide was jailed for four years for manslaughter, Sean Mackey for two years for violent disorder and Desmond Ryan to nine months for violent disorder.

Mr Murphy, aged 18, was kicked and beaten to death in a drunken fight after a student night in the Burlington Hotel on August 31, 2000.

Laide, aged 22, from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was jailed to a further two years for violent disorder, to run concurrently.

In sentencing all three former pupils of the exclusive Blackrock College, Judge Michael White said he had taken into account their previous good character, their young age at the time of the incident and the unlikelihood of future criminal behaviour.

But he said Laide had contributed significantly to the brawl. He delivered two punches of considerable force to Mr Murphy and was an instigating factor to the escalation of the dispute.

He acknowledged Mr Murphy had died as a result of injuries from a whole group of people and that it had not been established it was Laide who delivered the fatal kicks and punches.

He said Mackey, aged 23, of Foxrock, Co Dublin, had intervened as a response to a provoked assault by Mr Murphy but his involvement had also directly led to the significant seriousness of the incident.

Judge White said he had taken into account that Ryan, aged 23, from Dalkey, Co Dublin, had offered immediate assistance to Mr Murphy after the incident but that he too had delivered punches amounting to an unprovoked, serious assault.

The court was told excessive intake of alcohol was not an excuse for violent behaviour.