Man sentenced to 18 months in Walsh case

A 22-year-old man has been given an 18-month sentence for his role in the events leading up to the death of a man in Ballymun who remonstrated with a group of youths following the theft of his friend’s car.

Sean Ward, (aged 22) of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Stephen Walsh causing him harm outside a block of flats in Ballymun on November 1, 2004.

Judge Katherine Delahunt heard that these charges had arisen from a Garda investigation into events leading up to the death of Christopher Doyle, who died on November 9, 2004, some days after he was stabbed but that Ward had no culpability in relation to the killing.

She imposed an 18-month sentence but suspended the final nine months noting that Ward had reached a "turnabout point" in his life after the recent death of his mother and wished to change the course of his life.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Daly told Mr Remy Farrell BL, prosecuting, that Mr Walsh and his girlfriend had been socialising in Mr Doyle's flat with a number of other friends when Mr Walsh saw his girlfriend's car being driven around the area by a number of youths.

Mr Walsh went outside and confronted those that he believed had been responsible for the theft. Mr Walsh hit one of the men, Shane O'Brien, over the head with a wheel brace.

O'Brien left the area but returned a short time later with a group of friends, including Lewis Larkin and Sean and Gavin Ward. This group then confronted Mr Walsh and Mr Doyle who were outside the flats.

Det Sgt Daly said it was during the course of this confrontation that Sean Ward struck Mr Walsh, knocking him out cold to the ground, and that this was his only role in the assaults on either of the men.

Mr Walsh continued to be assaulted by a number of the group while he was unconscious on the ground.

Det Sgt Daly said Ward, who has 17 previous convictions, attended voluntarily at a Garda station within 24 hours and admitted that he had punched Mr Walsh with whom he had a "history" in St Patrick's Institution.

Mr Gerry O'Brien SC, defending Ward, said his client had co-operated with gardaí and entered an early guilty plea which had been of assistance to his victim who has recovered from his injuries.

He said that Ward, who had been abusing drugs and drinking heavily since the age of 16, had expressed regret for becoming involved in the incident and had the support of his family in court.

Gavin Ward (aged 24) of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, was jailed for eight year by Judge Michael White in July 2006 for the manslaughter of Mr Doyle who suffered a large stab wound in the right buttock area into his pelvic cavity when was stabbed from behind as he walked back to his flat following the confrontation.

Mr Doyle was taken to hospital where he was given 70 pints of blood and underwent surgery but died some days later from cardiac arrest while in intensive care.

Larkin (aged 21) of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, who is currently serving a four year sentence for a sexual assault on a young girl, was jailed for a year by Judge Delahunt in July 2006 for agreeing to get rid of the knife used in the stabbing and for handing O'Brien a crowbar to attack Mr Walsh while he lay on the ground.

O'Brien (aged 23), of Knowth Court, Poppintree was jailed for two years by Judge Delahunt in July 2006 for assaulting Mr Walsh causing him harm on the same occasion.

O'Brien admitted he had punched and kicked Mr Walsh while he was on the ground and had beaten his legs with the crowbar.