A Cork man who was assaulted in Cork city centre was left in "a continuing vegetative state" until he "suffered a cardiac arrest and died" nine months later, a court heard yesterday.
Mr Paul Sheehan (21), The Glen, Cork, and Mr Ross Stapleton (22), also of The Glen, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Christian Scully (28), Togher, Cork, on October 17th, 2002.
Mr Scully was on a life support machine after being set upon by youths at Sober Lane in the city centre in the early hours of January 28th before he died nine months later.
Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC, for the prosecution, said that "on arrival at Cork University Hospital, Mr Scully had very extensive swelling of the soft tissue of the scalp".
"Mr Scully was in a vegetative state and he remained in this condition until he suffered a cardiac arrest and died," she said.
The prosecution claims that after Mr Scully left friends in The Streets nightclub, which is part of The Grand Parade Hotel in Cork, at 1.30 a.m. he was set upon by two youths at Sober Lane. "At the same time, Mr Stapleton left The Temple nightclub also, meeting up with Mr Sheehan," Ms Ring said.
Mr Sheehan had been refused entry and was waiting for his friend outside the nightclub. It was claimed that the pair had been drinking since 3 p.m. at The Abbey bar in Fermoy before heading into the city centre sometime after midnight.
Ms Ring said that after 1.30 a.m. the occupants of two apartments on Sober Lane, near The Temple nightclub, were drawn to their windows because of the noise outside. She said these three people would give evidence that they saw "two men attack another man".
She added that on January 30th Mr Stapleton was arrested and Mr Sheehan the following day. After Mr Scully's death over nine months later, the pair were charged with his murder.
The deceased's friend, Mr Leonard Crowe, said that he had been drinking with Mr Scully on January 27th on and off from 3 p.m. Mr Crowe said that at The Streets nightclub he had asked the deceased if he would leave with him.
"He said no, that he'd be okay. He said he'd get straight into a cab", Mr Crowe said.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler.