A Cork man died from a cardiac arrest nine months after being attacked "due to head injuries caused by blunt force trauma", the State Pathologist told a murder trial today.
Dr Marie Cassidy, State Pathologist, said Christian Scully (28) from Togher, Cork suffered "diffuse axal injury, caused when the brain is rapidly accelerated and de-accelerated. This occurs usually when someone falls from a height or in traffic accidents but can happen when someone is forced to the ground and receives multiple punches or kicks to the head".
Mr Paul Sheehan (21), The Glen, Cork and Mr Ross Stapleton (21) also of The Glen have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Christian Scully (28) Togher, Cork on 17th October 2002.
Mr Scully was in a coma on a life support machine after being set upon by youths at Sober Lane in the city centre in the early hours of January 28th before he suffered a cardiac arrest nine months later and died on October 17th, 2002.
The jury heard Detective Inspector James Crockett give evidence that he arrested Mr Sheehan on January 31th 2002.
Addressing the jury, prosecuting counsel, Ms Mary Ellen Ring read out the statement made by Mr Sheehan in which he admitted to beating Mr Scully with his friend Mr Stapleton.
The jury heard that Mr Sheehan had been waiting for Mr Stapleton outside the Temple nightclub for over an hour, when he came out the pair had a fight. The co-accused told Gardaí Mr Stapleton had seen his girlfriend inside the nightclub talking to another man and this made him angry.
Mr Sheehan said this argument could have sparked off the assault.
Mr Sheehan said he walked on while Mr Stapleton was a few yards behind him in Sober Lane. After he heard shouting he went back into the lane to find Mr Stapleton fighting with the deceased.
"I went over and helped Ross, I got him (Mr Scully) on the ground and started kicking him. I tripped him onto the ground by putting my leg in behind his leg. I started kicking him in the head".
"I was kicking him as hard as I could and stamping on his head", Mr Sheehan told the gardaí.
Mr Sheehan said Mr Stapleton was kicking him in the head as well. "He was face down with his hands under him".
At this stage the Gardai asked the co-accused was Mr Scully resisting in any way, "No, he was fairly unconscious". Mr Sheehan knew this, he said, because after they dragged him along the ground, "he wasn't moving".
The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Paul Butler.