Apprentice charged over ‘one-punch’ death ‘had drunk 20 shots of rum’
AN APPRENTICE carpenter has been charged with seriously assaulting a student who died from injuries he suffered in a “one-punch” attack on Halloween night.
Jack Hall Ellis drank 20 measures of Captain Morgan rum before allegedly attacking 20-year-old Luke O’Reilly in the early hours of November 1, a court heard yesterday.
During a bail hearing, Dublin District Court was told that Mr O’Reilly was struck once on the side of the head as he walked home with friends from Halloween celebrations and fell to the ground where he hit his head.
He died in hospital from his injuries earlier this week. Judge Anthony Halpin granted Mr Hall Ellis bail after hearing that gardaí expect to bring a further, more serious charge.
Mr Hall Ellis, of Old Court Mill, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is charged with assault causing harm to Mr O’Reilly in Old Blessington Road, Tallaght, in the early hours of November 1.
Garda David Morris said he arrested the defendant at Tallaght garda station at 5.45pm on Tuesday. Mr Hall Ellis made no reply to the charge after being cautioned at 6.04pm, he said.
Gda Morris said he was objecting to bail, citing the nature, degree and seriousness of the charge, which carries a potential five-year prison term on conviction. Outlining the allegations, he said a serious assault happened at 2.45am on November 1.
Mr O’Reilly, from Kiltipper, Dublin 24, had just left the Metro pub in Tallaght and was walking down the road with a group of friends when a man approached Mr O’Reilly from behind and punched him to the side of the head.
The punch caused him to fall on to the concrete footpath where he hit his head. Gda Morris said it was alleged that Mr Hall Ellis was “caught red-handed”, witness statements had been taken and there was CCTV evidence.
Gda Morris agreed with defence solicitor Padraig O’Donovan that the accused had occasioned a ‘one-punch’ assault. He further agreed with the defence solicitor that the accused said he went out only rarely but had “a good bit to drink that night” – 10 double shots of Captain Morgan.
Judge Halpin granted bail in the defendant’s own cash bond on €1,000 and adjourned the case to January.