A Mountjoy prisoner has been sentenced to eight years, with the last three suspended, for killing a fellow inmate over a remote control. Alan Smith (34), of Ballybough House, Ballybough Road and Buttercup Park, Darndale, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to murdering David Byrne (29) on July 3rd, 2009.
However, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On June 9th, 2009, Smith hit Byrne over the head with a sock containing two batteries. Byrne later refused treatment, went into a coma and died 25 days later.