An open verdict was recorded in the death of a Welsh rugby fan who died following a physical altercation with a man in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, in 1998.
An inquest at Cork Coroner's Court was told Dorien Vick (32) had come to Ireland on March 30th, 1998, to support the Welsh rugby team, who were playing a rugby game against Ireland two days later.
Mr Vick's friend, Mr Brendan Ahern, told the court that the group had gone out for drinks that evening in Roscrea. He testified that he was called out of the pub at 10 p.m. by a man who said Mr Vick was injured.
Another friend, Mr Gerion Williams, said he had been crossing Castle Street and turned around to find Mr Vick on the ground. He didn't know what had happened to his friend, but he was lying to the rear of a black Mercedes.
He said a man in his 30s was standing by the car and Mr Williams asked him what had happened. The man did not respond and drove off.
Sgt John Byrne of Roscrea Garda station testified that the man in the Mercedes was Liam Fogarty, a resident of the town.
He said that Mr Fogarty gave a statement on March 30th, wherein he admitted he had head butted Mr Vick.
Mr Fogarty told gardai that Mr Vick had struck his car and made an obscene gesture at him as he attempted to drive down Castle Street.
He had been charged with manslaughter in relation to the incident, but died before the case came to trial.
Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, testified that Mr Vick had died from a haemorrhage consistent with the back of a person's head hitting the ground.
She said bruising around Mr Vick's eye suggested he may have received a blow to the head that could have knocked him to the ground.
Mr Vick died 10 days after the incident.