Sentencing of Cork man for manslaughter of 'kind and good-natured' pensioner adjourned

Aaron Wolfe, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Florence (Florrie) O’Sullivan on March 11, 2023, will be sentenced on May 11 after probation report is completed

Florrie O'Sullivan, the victim of a fatal assault in The Glen, Cork. Picture: Rip.ie.

Sentencing of a 28-year-old man for the manslaughter of a kind and good-natured 69-year-old man from West Cork was adjourned on Friday until May 20 to allow time for the completion of a probation report on the now convicted killer.

The background circumstances were that the deceased got into conversation with a 28-year-old man in a Cork City pub and four hours later — without any signs of animosity building up between them — the elderly man was bleeding heavily on the ground, being kicked in the head by the younger man.

Last month at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, Aaron Wolfe pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Florence (Florrie) O’Sullivan on March 11, 2023, at 15 Glentrasna Court, The Glen, Cork. He was originally charged with murder, but Jane Hyland prosecution senior counsel, said the DPP accepted the guilty plea to manslaughter.

On Friday, defence barrister Paula McCarthy said the probation report was not ready and Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford remanded Aaron Wolfe in continuing custody until May 20 for sentencing.

The late Florrie O’Sullivan’s brother, Paddy O’Sullivan, said previously: “He was a kind and good-natured person, never failing to help people in trouble. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Florrie. 

"I am here to get justice for my brother Florrie, I want closure. We are three years waiting for it. It is a one-sided story — my brother is not here to defend himself. I swore on his soul I would get justice for him.” 

Sergeant Catriona Molloy outlined the background to the unlawful killing. Aaron Wolfe was drinking alone in The Linen Weaver pub on Paul Street, Cork, from after 3pm on Saturday afternoon, March 11, 2023. He was drinking pints of lager. 

Florrie O’Sullivan went to the same pub after 4pm for a cup of coffee and started talking to Aaron Wolfe, who was 28 at the time.

By 8.15pm, gardaí were receiving calls about a violent assault taking place outside the house at Glen Trasna, where the injured party was being kicked on the ground. 

Florence O’Sullivan died at Cork University Hospital on April 6 2023 — after being hospitalised following the March 11 incident.