Jailed for six and a half years for Athlone manslaughter

A man has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for a violent assault, which resulted in the death of another man on a stag night in Athlone over four years ago.

The life of 48-year-old Paul ‘Babs’ Connolly from Edenderry “was extinguished and his family were left bereft”, according to Judge Deirdre Browne, who sentenced Roscommon native Sean Munnelly (40), with an address of Irishtown, Athlone, at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court today, Friday.

Mr Munnelly pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, which occurred in the early hours of August 13, 2022, after the victim had become separated from his group and been subjected to an assault which occurred over the course of 21 minutes on Church Street, Athlone.

Judge Browne noted that Mr Connolly had made some comments to some acquaintances of Mr Munnelly and a co-accused, David Higgins (23), of St Paul’s Terrace, Athlone, about child pornography, but said he “posed no threat to anyone”.

“He may have made offensive remarks,” she said, but noted that he looked “as if he doesn’t know what’s going on” and, despite that demeanour, Mr Munnelly and David Higgins repeatedly assaulted him and “seemed incapable of leaving him alone”.

Mr Higgins (23), of St Paul’s Terrace, Athlone, was previously prosecuted before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Court for assault causing harm and engaging in violent disorder, and received a one-year prison sentence in December 2023.

Judge Browne noted from CCTV footage that Mr Connolly fell to the ground on three occasions. The accused, Munnelly, can be seen kicking him to the head or face while he’s down on his knees on one occasion.

She also noted the final interaction was “difficult to watch, knowing how it ends”, as it shows Mr Munnelly circling Mr Connolly, engaging in a verbal tirade and “gesticulating in a most aggressive manner”.

It was not evident Mr Connolly was engaging, but Mr Munnelly “strikes him to the left side of the head, Paul Connolly falls heavily to the ground, hitting his head, and as the accused walks away, Paul Connolly seems to spasm”, she said.

“There could be no provocation for the blow, other than the accused winding himself up in the diatribe he was delivering,” said Judge Browne.

A nurse who assisted the victim following the assault, heard Mr Munnelly mutter “fucking deserved it, nobody pisses me off”, Judge Browne noted.

A postmortem found Mr Connolly’s death was caused by cardiac arrest, resulting from a complex interaction of blunt force trauma to the head in a setting of acute intoxication and the emotional stress of the assault.

Judge Browne did not accept that the death was as a result of a “one-punch” assault, noting that it took place over the course of 21 minutes, with the victim suffering a number of kicks and punches despite being clearly intoxicated and visibly injured.

“The court has to have regard to the fact that, at the time of the offence, Mr Munnelly was not a young man. He was 36 years old, on bail, and under a suspended sentence for assault and threats to kill. He should have known and appreciated the consequences of his actions,” said Judge Browne.

She also noted that Mr Munnelly, who has 102 previous convictions, had consumed alcohol and been seen snorting cocaine on the night, but stated he would have been aware of the consequences of alcohol and drugs.

In mitigation, she noted the guilty plea, however late in the day it came. Had the case gone to trial before a jury, it was anticipated to last four weeks, with 130 witnesses and significant CCTV evidence.

Mr Munnelly’s letter of apology struck her as genuine, and she noted the probation officer had concluded his remorse is authentic. She also noted his efforts of rehabilitation, as well as his engagement with education in prison.

Setting a headline sentence of eight years and six months, Judge Browne mitigated that down to seven years, suspending the final six months for a period of one year under the condition that he remain under the supervision of the probation services for 12 months.

He is also to engage with substance misuse counselling and engage with any other support service recommended by the probation office. The sentence was backdated to February 27, 2024.

Judge Browne concluded by offering her sincere condolences to the family, stating that “this is a conclusion of one part of a much bigger matter” for them.