Two former Blackrock College students were convicted of violent disorder at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last night, but still await a verdict on the charge of manslaughter outstanding against them.
The jury members were sent to a hotel for a third night and will resume their deliberations on the manslaughter charge this morning. The students are charged with killing Mr Brian Murphy outside Club Anabel, near the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on August 31st, 2000.
On Wednesday Dermot Laide (22), Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was convicted of both manslaughter and violent disorder and is awaiting sentencing.
The fourth defendant, Mr Andrew Frame (22), Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, was acquitted on both charges - by direction of the judge on the manslaughter charge.
The unanimous verdicts on violent disorder against Desmond Ryan (23), Cunningham Road, Dalkey, and Seán Mackey (23), South Park, Foxrock, were delivered shortly before 7 p.m. last night, after the jury members had deliberated for 15 hours and 32 minutes.
Judge Michael White told them they could inform him at any time today if they found it impossible to reach a verdict.
Earlier, the jury had asked for the testimony of Paul Cahill and Paul Mooney to be read to them, and the judge read the relevant evidence from the transcripts.
Mr Cahill said he saw some people kicking a "guy in a red T-shirt" on the ground and "a guy wearing a Diesel brand jumper" run into the group, kick the young man on the ground and then run out again. This man was identified during the court case as Mackey.