Man jailed over drinking session killing

A Limerick man who hit a father of three over the head with bottles of beer during a drinking session and left while he bled to death was today sentenced to eight years in prison.

Joseph McCarthy, (aged 32), from Delmedge Park, Moyross, Limerick, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Colman Barrett in a Laneway beside St Patrick’s cathedral in Galway city on September 8-9, 2003.

The Central Criminal Court heard today that McCarthy had gone to Galway to recuperate from bullet wounds he had received in Limerick three months earlier. Judge Paul Carney sentenced him to eight years for the manslaughter of Barrett, backdating it to September 2003 when he was taken into custody. He has suspended the final year of the sentence.

The family of Barrett, who was from Castlepark, Ballybane, Galway, told the court that they were very upset with the charge of manslaughter. “We feel it should be murder,” said his sister Ann Marie Barrett.

“Mum and dad look sad all the time. They used to laugh at each other. My family have forgotten how to love each other,” she said.

Senior counsel Brendan Nix, representing McCarthy, said his client knew the pain he had caused by his actions and was extremely remorseful.

Ms Barrett replied: “Then why was he making faces at me a few minutes ago. I don’t accept your (McCarthy’s) apology because you’re scum.”