Duhallow hunters know how to have a ball
Manslaughter verdict on Kanturk punch death
A 28-YEAR-OLD Kanturk man has been found guilty of manslaughter and remanded on bail for sentence over the death of a 65-year-old man whom he struck with a single punch outside a bar in Kanturk.
Jonathan O’Sullivan from Kanturk – but living at Birchfield Park, Goatstown, Dublin – had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Finbarr Lehane at the Stand Bar, the Square, Kanturk on October 23/24, 2016.
But this Wednesday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women found him guilty by a majority 11-1 decision of the unlawful killing of Mr Lehane, a musician from Glen South in Banteer. The jury had spent three hours and 41 minutes deliberating in the case.
Mr Lehane died in Cork University Hospital on November 7, 2016, some two weeks after suffering serious head injuries in the assault which happened outside the pub in Kanturk. He left behind a wife and five adult children.
Mr O’Sullivan was remanded on bail for sentencing on February 28.
GLITZ, glamour and fun were the hallmarks of the ever-popular annual Duhallow Hunt Ball, which took place at Springfort Hall Hotel last Saturday night.
Visitors from the United States, the UK, Sweden and counties across Ireland including Tyrone, Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow, Meath, Tipperary and Limerick joined locals who attended the gala event from throughout the North Cork area.
The host Hunt Club was very well represented by three of their four current masters; the fourth was unfortunately unable to attend due to injury.
These representatives were Matt Nagle and his wife, Regine; Pat Hayes and his wife, Donna; as well as Peter O’Meara and his wife Hilary.
Retired master Maurice O’Connell was also in attendance with his wife, Rosemary, as well as huntsman Ger Withers and his wife, Maria.
Other local attendees included Philip and Catherine O’Flynn, Pat and Bets Coleman; chairman of the Hunt Pat Fleming with his wife, Eleanor; Alexander Mills MFH and Siobhan Buchanan Johnson of the Iveagh Hunt.
What was also notable and encouraging about the evening was the number of of young people attending, which ensured energy levels were high and the human donkey derby – with humans as the donkeys – was run at an exciting pace.
Peter O’Meara was MC for the night and carried out the ever-popular auction, which included items such as hunting days with various groups around the country; riding lessons from local three-day event experts Sian Coleman and Brian Morrison; a hunting trip to the Middleton Hunt in the UK (including accommodation); Irish weekend breaks at hotels; a beautiful hand-made bridle from local saddler Phil Richardson; as well as paintings and many more items.
The organising committee consisting of Maria Aherne, Hilary O’Meara, Julie Roche, Liz Ryan, Diana McLernon, Jane O’Flynn, Fiona O’Meara and Elaine Palmer were very happy with the evening’s proceedings and were congratulated on organising yet another superb event. The popularity of this annual get-together is notable and definitely one of the top social dates on the local calendar.
Music and entertainment was provided by the ever-popular Bog The Donkey, who kept the revellers dancing until well into the early hours of Sunday morning.