Manslaughter charge may be reviewed after report
COCAINE and alcohol intoxication contributed to the death of a man allegedly killed by his close friend in Lurgan, the High Court has heard.
A judge said the manslaughter charge against John McComb may have to be reconsidered following a pathologist’s report into how Paul Curran died in March.
However, he still refused to grant 37-year-old McComb bail due to the risk of further offences.
The body of Mr Curran (29) was discovered when paramedics were called to an address at Manor Drive in the town. McComb, of Woodville Street in Lurgan, was arrested a short time later. He accepted that he had been in a minor altercation with the deceased, but denied inflicting any fatal blows, the court heard.
His bail application was previously adjourned for expert opinion on whether the cause of death was down to excessive drugs or a traumatic brain injury from an assault.
Prosecution counsel revealed yesterday that the pathologist has concluded a combination of cocaine and alcohol were likely to have led to Mr Curran’s collapse but did not rule out any altercation from being a contributory factor.
Although the manslaughter charge remains, a Public Prosecution Service representative is now due to consult with the pathologist.
Mr Justice O’Hara commented: “In those circumstances it’s clearly possible that the charge of unlawfully killing Paul Curran on March 9 may have to be reconsidered.”
Maintaining opposition to bail, the Crown lawyer claimed there were fears for McComb’s own safety.
Defence counsel rejected claims of continuing tensions over the death, stressing that McComb wanted to clear his name and end stigma. They argued that Mr Curran’s injuries backed his client’s version of events that any altercation was minor.
But ordering McComb to remain in custody, Mr Justice O’Hara said: “I’m not satisfied that he would adhere to terms of bail.”