A 22-year-old man has been given an 18-month sentence for his role in events leading to the death of a man in Ballymun who remonstrated with a group of youths after the theft of his friend's car.
Seán Ward (22), Balcurris Road, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Stephen Walsh causing him harm in Ballymun on November 1st, 2004.
Judge Katherine Delahunt heard that these charges had arisen from a Garda investigation into events leading up to the death of Christopher Doyle, who died on November 9th, 2004, days after he was stabbed, but that Ward had no culpability in relation to the killing.
She suspended the final nine months of the sentence, noting that Ward had reached a "turnabout point" in his life after the recent death of his mother and wished to change his life.
Det Sgt Kevin Daly told Remy Farrell BL, prosecuting, that Mr Walsh and his girlfriend had been socialising in Doyle's flat with other friends when Mr Walsh saw his girlfriend's car being driven around the area.
Mr Walsh confronted those that he believed had been responsible for the theft and hit one of the men, Shane O'Brien, over the head with a wheel brace.
O'Brien returned a short time later with friends, including Lewis Larkin and Seán and Gavin Ward, and confronted Mr Walsh and Doyle outside the flats.
Det Sgt Daly said Seán Ward struck Mr Walsh, knocking him out cold, and that this was his only role in the assaults.
Mr Walsh continued to be assaulted while he was unconscious.
Det Sgt Daly said Ward, who has 17 previous convictions, attended voluntarily at a Garda station within 24 hours and admitted that he had punched Mr Walsh with whom he had a "history" in St Patrick's Institution.
Gerry O'Brien SC, defending Ward, said his client had co-operated with gardaí and entered an early guilty plea which had been of assistance to his victim who has recovered from his injuries.
He said that Ward, who had been abusing drugs and drinking heavily since the age of 16, had expressed his regret and had the support of his family in court.
Gavin Ward (24), Balcurris Road, Ballymun, was jailed for eight years by Judge Michael White in July 2006 for the manslaughter of Doyle, who suffered a large stab wound to his pelvic cavity when attacked from behind.
Doyle was taken to hospital where he was given 70 pints of blood and had surgery but died days later from cardiac arrest.
Larkin (21), Balcurris Road, Ballymun, who is serving a four-year sentence for a sexual assault on a girl, was jailed for a year by Judge Delahunt in July 2006 for agreeing to get rid of the knife and for handing O'Brien a crowbar to attack Mr Walsh.
O'Brien (23), Knowth Court, Poppintree was jailed for two years by Judge Delahunt in July 2006 for assaulting Mr Walsh.