Pensioner gets 10 years for manslaughter 12 years ago

An Englishman in his 60s, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 19-year-old man in Kerry 12 years ago, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Robert Anthony (aged 61), with a previous address at Derrylough, Tuosist, Kenmare, fatally stabbed Philip O’Sullivan in the groin, during a scuffle at his home on August 22, 1997.

Passing sentence this morning, Mr Justice Paul Carney said Anthony’s plea of guilty had been the only factor to stand in his favour, but that even this had been “diluted” by the fact he absconded bail and had evaded justice for the killing for 12 years.

Justice Carney said Anthony’s prior criminal convictions meant he could not rely on previous good character evidence, and that he had escalated what was a “low-level drunken scuffle” by reaching for a knife and claiming the life of an innocent man.

Justice Carney ordered that Anthony’s sentence run from June 13, 2008.

In a victim impact statement to the court yesterday, Ms Joanne O’Sullivan, the victim’s sister, who was just 14 at the time of the killing, said his brother’s death had left an everlasting void in their lives.

She said her family had suffered enormously as the result of her parents’ losing a “fantastic son”, and her “a fantastic brother”.

Justice Carney refused Anthony leave to appeal.