TWO DUBLIN men have been remanded in custody pending sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a robbery which went wrong, leading to the death of a young Leitrim man.
Michael Carroll (22), Lower Dominick Street, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Liam McGowan (22), Kinlough, Co Leitrim, on August 20th, 2006. Anthony Carroll (25), St Attracta Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McGowan on that date.
Judge Katherine Delahunt remanded both men in custody until next month to allow her read reports.
Fergal Foley, prosecuting, said the Carrolls, who are not related, had intended to rob Mr McGowan after they struck up a conversation with him in a pub and Michael Carroll was prepared to use a “low level” of force if necessary.
He said Anthony Carroll knew of Michael Carroll’s intention to rob Mr McGowan but there was no intention by either of the Carrolls to kill or cause serious harm to Mr McGowan.
Mr Foley stressed this was not a case of murder but of manslaughter where Mr McGowan died from injuries he received after striking his head on the ground following a single punch from Michael Carroll.
A victim impact statement prepared on behalf of the McGowan family said Mr McGowan was “a loving son, brother and friend.” The family said nothing could have prepared them for “the pain and heartbreak” they suffered since 2006.
Garda Martin McInerney said Mr McGowan had recently moved to Dublin and had begun working in an insurance company. He was socialising on the night with a group of friends and had consumed a significant amount of alcohol. He left the pub and headed in the direction of his flat at Mountjoy Square, but stopped in another pub and fell into conversation with the Carrolls.
Garda McInerney said Anthony Carroll was consuming cocaine in the pub and the conversation between the three turned to the drug. Mr McGowan, who had no experience of drug taking, and the two Carrolls came to an arrangement that Mr McGowan would withdraw some money and Anthony Carroll would buy some cocaine.
The trio walked towards Hardwicke Street where the drug transaction took place. Instead of handing the drug to Mr McGowan, Anthony Carroll instead handed it to Michael Carroll. Mr McGowan “may have” remonstrated with him before Michael Carroll struck him once in the face with his fist. Mr McGowan fell to the ground and struck his head. Michael Carroll and Anthony Carroll fled the scene and no cocaine was recovered.
Neither of the Carrolls called an ambulance.