Two men convicted of violent disorder in connection with the death of Brian Murphy outside Anabel's nightclub in Dublin in August 2000 have completed their prison sentences.
Dermot Laide (23), Rossvale, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, who faces a retrial on a charge of the manslaughter of Mr Murphy, was set to be released yesterday evening from Loughan House open prison in Co Cavan.
Seán Mackey (24), South Park, Foxrock, Dublin, is due to be released today from Shelton Abbey open prison in Co Wicklow.
Both were sentenced to two years' imprisonment in March 2004 after being convicted of violent disorder.
Laide had also received a four-year sentence for the manslaughter of Brian Murphy, an 18-year-old student who died after being kicked and beaten.
But last February the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the manslaughter conviction, while upholding the conviction for violent disorder.
Last July the State was ordered to pay the costs of Laide's retrial on a charge of manslaughter, due to begin next spring.
The State was also ordered to pay the costs of his appeal in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Laide served most of his sentence in Portlaoise Prison but was recently moved to Loughan House.
Last June his mother Honora Laide expressed concern that her son had not been granted permission to transfer to an open prison at a time when Mackey had been so transferred.
Mrs Laide said her son felt he was being made to be "guiltier" than the other man convicted of the same offence.
