Man guilty of pensioner’s killing with a single punch
Cork Circuit Court A MAN has been found guilty of killing a pensioner in a single-punch attack.
Jonathan O’sullivan, 28, had denied the manslaughter of Finbar Lehane.
When he was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he admitted he assaulted the 65-year-old at a bar in Kanturk, Co Cork, in October 2016.
Mr Lehane died in hospital a fortnight later.
O’sullivan, of Kanturk, Co Cork, who is originally from Goatstown, Co Dublin, was remanded on bail until his sentencing hearing on February 28.
The trial had heard he and Mr Lehane were in the bar in the early hours.
Prosecutor Imelda Kelly said alcohol was a feature of the case.
When struck, the father of four fell backwards, hit the ground and lost consciousness.
Bar worker Liz Angland told gardai he “hit the ground with an unmerciful crack”.
O’sullivan told gardai Mr Lehane had been “talking ramesh” in to his ear.
He said: “I decided to go out the back. I don’t know what happened. I just drew a punch.”
Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty said her client wept through the interview with gardai and this was only a day after and a considerable amount of time before Mr Lehane died in hospital. Fighters size each other up Garda takes man away Fight in O’connell Street last night