A 38-year-old father of two was found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder yesterday at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
After deliberating for over eight hours, the jury reached a majority manslaughter verdict.
James (Seamus) Morgan, Lower Mount Pleasant Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin, denied the murder of James Hand (29), Mountjoy Square, Dublin, on or between August 22nd and September 5th, 2002, at the Meeting Pint public house, Dorset Street Upper.
The accused had gone to the pub at least three times in an agitated state after he was barred, the court heard.
After Mr Hand, who was an uncle of one of the bar staff, "had words" with the accused, an altercation broke out.
Mr Hand was stabbed and died two weeks later.
After the verdict was delivered, Det Garda David O'Brien told the court that Morgan had previous convictions for burglary, disorderly conduct, criminal damage and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said the deceased suffered six stab wounds, two of which penetrated the rib cage.
Mr Hand, she said, "lost a considerable quantity of blood". Despite multiple transfusions and an operation, he developed a lung infection and died from septic shock two weeks after he was stabbed.
Dr Cassidy told the court that Mr Hand had been suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. The effect of that, she said under cross-examination, would have reduced his ability to recover.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr John Sheehan told the court the accused had been his patient for a number of years following a road accident in July 1999 in which he sustained severe head injuries.
Morgan was on four types of medication around the time of the fatal incident, Dr Sheehan told the court.
Morgan gave direct evidence during the trial, saying to the jury that he believed his life was in danger during the fight with the deceased.
"I realised I had a weapon in my hand", he said. "It was in my best interest to stop him", Morgan told the jury.
Morgan will be sentenced on May 30th next.