A LORRY DRIVER who made sexually explicit remarks to a married woman died later in hospital after receiving head injuries in a fall outside a hotel at which there had been a "punch up", an inquest in Dublin Coroner's Court was told yesterday.
John Connolly (34), a father of two, from Cormackstown, Co Tipperary had attended a pre Christmas party for local staff of Celtic Hampers Ltd in the Urlingford Arms Hotel, Co Kilkenny, on December 17th, 1994.
During the function he had been introduced to another man's wife. He told her she was "a fine thing", but later called her "a dry bitch" because she would not accept a drink from him.
Yesterday Ms Marion Lawlor, of Derrynaflan Avenue, Littleton, Co Tipperary, told the inquest that she did not tell her husband about the "fine thing" remark initially. But Connolly had returned to her at the bar, and her husband overheard him making more remarks.
Ms Lawlor said: "My husband told him to leave it, as he didn't want anyone messing with his wife, but John Connolly was now saying at this stage `You've a fine pair of legs' and other things, and I knew he was coming on to me. John told him to shut his mouth, that he didn't like that kind of messing."
Ms Lawlor said that words were exchanged, and she saw Connolly grab her husband and strike him with his fist in the face and chest. Then, in the hotel hallway, she saw Connolly kick her husband on the ground. There was a lot of blood.
Ms Lawlor added: "I went up to Connolly and told him that if he left another finger on my husband I would kill him. I was in a rage because of the blood I had seen. I then saw another man hit Connolly and he fell to the ground."
Her husband, John, told the inquest that he became aware Connolly was being "smart" with his wife and could see that she was getting irritated.
After the function, while walking to his car with his wife, he saw Connolly standing between two cars and said to his wife: "I'll go up and shake hands with him." But, as he spoke, he noticed that Connolly had his fists raised. Connolly then came at him as though he was going to give him "another hiding".
Mr Lawlor continued: "I pushed him back with my right hand to protect myself. He staggered back where there seemed to be a dip in the footpath. He fell back, striking the back of his head on the wall."
Evidence was given that the injured man was taken by ambulance to St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, arriving there at about 1.45 a.m. He was transferred from casualty to intensive care, but deteriorated further and subsequently died in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, on December 21st.
Supt Michael Murphy, of Thurles, said that gardai were not told about the incident until 4 p.m. on December 19th, when a brother of the deceased man told Sgt Tom Lysaght that Connolly was in hospital. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions after an investigation lasting a week, but no proceedings were issued.
The Chief State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, said that the cause of death was sub dural haemorrhage and laceration of the brain due to a fracture of the skull consistent with a fall on the right side of the back of the head. The injury was not due to a punch or a kick.
The inquest jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.