An 18-year-old student died from brain damage after he was kicked in the head by at least four people outside a well-known Dublin hotel, counsel for the prosecution said when the trial of four men charged with his manslaughter opened at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Brian Murphy, of Clonskeagh, Dublin, was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head and body outside the Burlington Hotel's Club Anabel nightclub in Donnybrook, counsel said.
He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital but died less than 90 minutes after arrival.
Mr Andrew Frame (22), Nutley Lane, Donnybrook; Mr Dermot Laide (22), Rossvale, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan; Mr Sean Mackey (23), South Park, Foxrock; and Mr Desmond Ryan (22), Cunningham Road, Dalkey, have all pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Murphy at Sussex Road on August 31st, 2000.
They have also denied committing violent disorder by using or threatening to use unlawful violence on the same date.
In his opening address to the jury, Mr Edward Comyn SC (with Mr Brendan Grehan SC), prosecuting, described the case as a tragedy, not only for Mr Murphy, but for the four accused who are charged with his death.
He said: "Mr Murphy was a young adult starting into life, a student, who died on August 31st, 2000.
"It was certainly a tragedy, but another tragedy surrounding his death was that four men with their lives ahead of them are brought here because the prosecution says they are responsible for his death."
Mr Comyn said some 714 people were in attendance at Club Anabel, which was hosting a promotion night for students.
There would be evidence from a lot of young people during the course of the trial, which he said was estimated to last between three and four weeks.
The jury would hear there was some disagreement between Mr Murphy and Mr Frame. It was unclear who started it, but outside a scuffle developed, which grew into something far more serious involving a number of young people.
Mr Murphy got isolated from the larger group and was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head and body by a group of possibly six people, but at least four. The fight lasted only a short time, but Mr Murphy was rendered unconscious as a result. He was taken by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital at approximately 3.30 a.m., but despite the best attempts of staff to resuscitate him he died at 4.57 a.m.
Mr Comyn said the State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, performed a post-mortem examination on the body and found Mr Murphy's teeth damaged, as well as a cut to his upper lip and right eye socket and bruising to his legs and back.
He suffered a brain enlargement and died as a result of brain damage, inhalation of blood and multiple facial injuries, which were due to considerable violence being inflicted upon him.
Mr Comyn said: "It is the prosecution's case that the four accused were part of a group which were attacking Brian Murphy when he was isolated and outnumbered.
"It was a short but intensive attack and done at a time when there was no justification, and the fight had reached a stage where they should have stopped."
Mr Comyn said it was not the prosecution's case that the youths intended to kill Mr Murphy or to cause him serious bodily harm, but that they did intend to hurt him.
"We don't say the attack was planned or premeditated but we do say that these four people decided to be part of the violence against him when they should have chosen not to do so."
In the course of the trial the jury would hear from over 100 witnesses, and approximately 47 of those saw the incident, he said.
The trial continues before Judge Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.