Victim's mother attacks justice system

The mother of nightclub assault victim Brian Murphy launched a scathing attack on the criminal justice system today following a long-awaited inquest into her son’s death.

The 18-year-old student died in hospital after a vicious assault outside the Club Annabel venue in Dublin in the early hours of August 31, 2000.

Last July, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced that no further prosecutions would be sought in the high-profile case, thus clearing the way for the inquest.

A jury at Dublin City Coroners Court today decided that Mr Murphy was the victim of an unlawful killing.

Afterwards Mr Murphy’s mother Mary welcomed the verdict but immediately called for more balance and truth for victims within the criminal justice system.

She said: “On behalf of Brian and all the other victims of violent death whose voices cannot be heard, I appeal to political and legal authorities to redress the balance in our legal system and to look at ways to bring truth back into the equation.”

Four former Blackrock College students faced charges in relation to the killing during a seven-week Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in 2004.

One of the accused was acquitted of all charges while two were convicted of violent disorder.

Dermot Laide, from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder. However the manslaughter charge was later overturned on appeal and a retrial ordered.

But in April of last year a nolle prosequi (no prosecution) was entered by the State in Laide’s case because of “ongoing evidential difficulties”.

The DPP said in July that it would not be seeking further prosecutions in relation to the death.