Brother of man who died in one-punch assault says we must challenge toxic masculinity

Oireachtas justice committee hears as family members of victims of one-punch assaults seek sentencing framework for such attacks

Bryan Gallagher, whose brother Cian Gallagher died after a one-punch assault in Tallow in 2022, at Leinster House where he and other relatives of victims attended the justice committee. Picture: Gareth Chaney

The brother of a man who died after a one-punch assault in Waterford says toxic masculinity needs to be challenged.

Bryan Gallagher joined other family members of victims of one-punch assaults during a session of Oireachtas justice committee today, Tuesday. 

Mr Gallagher’s 26-year-old brother Cian died in Cork University Hospital in 2022, eight days after an unprovoked assault in Tallow, Co Waterford. 

Bryan Gallagher has now joined with Sharon Lynn — whose brother Martin died after a one-punch assault in 2023 — in a campaign for a sentencing framework for such incidents.

Mr Gallagher said his brother was attacked by a man he did not know.

He said: “Cian did everything right that night — he even tried to walk away from that individual, but everything Cian was taught to do wasn’t enough.” 

He added that following Cian’s death, the Gallagher family had to navigate a “very complex criminal justice system”, going through two murder trials and an appeal hearing in the case.

Praise for men who came to Cian's aid

He said that on the night, Cian had been aided by three young men who saw what had happened.

“They did not walk past, they did not take out their phones, they did not video it, and they did not post it online. They showed integrity, compassion, and they protected Cian. 

"They did for Cian what we as his family could not do that night. Those three young men are genuine role models to all young and old men across Ireland, yet their names or actions will never be shared millions of times and glorified on social media,” he said.

He told committee members that footage and imagery glorifying “one punch knockouts” circulates unmoderated on social media.

He added: “The language men use to describe violence increasingly echoes that content.” 

He said that there is a significant problem relating to violence across all areas of Ireland, not just urban areas.

Sharon Lynn, whose brother Martin Lynn was left blind and partially paralysed after a one-punch assault in 2023, was among survivors' and victims' family members at the justice committee today, Tuesday. Picture: Gareth Chaney

“Ireland is letting down a generation of young men by allowing this material and attitude towards violence to reach them unchallenged, with no equivalent counter-message about the reality of what a single punch or a violent act does to a human skull, to an individual, to a family and to a future. 

"If we are serious about supporting our young men, we need to challenge this toxic behaviour, starting with an awareness and zero-tolerance approach to violence through our legislative and legal frameworks.” 

Meanwhile, Sharon Lynn told the committee that she found it very difficult to discover after the sentencing hearing in her brother Martin’s case that she was not entitled to a transcript of the hearing.

She said she had thought such a request would be “straightforward”. She said that being refused the transcript made her feel excluded from the process, adding that in the UK, families have access to a free transcript of sentencing remarks.

During the hearing, Limerick man Brian Hogan told committee members how his life had been changed forever after he was the subject of a one-punch assault in the UK in 2009. He said that while he survived his attack, the person he was before it no longer exists. He is blind and wheelchair bound as a result of the attack.