Three young Galway men were sentenced to terms of imprisonment at Galway Circuit Court yesterday for their part in a "savage attack" on a group of Tipperary men last year in which Mr Colm Phelan, of Roscrea, lost his life.
The court was told none of the three had hit Mr Phelan with a bottle, the action which caused his death, and a number of witnesses had left the State because of intimidation prior to their appearances.
Thomas Mongan (21) and Brian McDonagh (17), both of Hillside Park, Galway, were jailed for four years after they pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in violent disorder in Eyre Square on July 21st last year.
Thomas Mongan's brother, Jimmy, also of Hillside Park, was sentenced to three years in prison on the same charge.
Earlier this week, a fourth man, Gerry Barry, was given a five-year term after a jury found him guilty of the same charge after failing to agree on a manslaughter charge.
"The victims in this case came to Galway for a social occasion and this violence against them was totally unprovoked," said Supt Tony Finnerty. "Unfortunately, it is a situation which is becoming more common in the Eyre Square area."
Supt Finnerty said gardai were on the scene within "one-to-two" minutes of the assault ending.
Det Garda Anthony Reidy read out statements from the three accused in which they admitted taking part in the fracas which occurred after Barry approached the Tipperary group, who were celebrating a stag night in the early hours of the morning.
"A savage row took place in which the Galway group used bottles, boots and fists in the unprovoked attack on the group of 12 Tipperary men," he said. After the fracas, which lasted three or four minutes, Mr Phelan was found dead. A number of his friends required hospital treatment.
"People had come to Galway on a visit for the purposes of pleasure," said Judge Raymond Groarke. "Following but the slightest provocation, if that be what it was, they were set upon in a most savage way. Extreme violence was used by these people."
Judge Groarke said it was clear that all three had expressed genuine remorse, but their behaviour merited a long term of imprisonment. He refused leave to appeal.