A man has been given a five-year suspended sentence for manslaughter in what the judge described as "really a drunken brawl".
Sentencing Sean Walsh (23), a carpenter, of Kiltormer, Ballinasloe, at Galway Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Carl Moran described the case as "particularly tragic".
Walsh admitted the manslaughter of Thomas Coen (37) on November 17th, 1997. Both men had been drowning their sorrows in The Hill public house in Kiltormer after the local team was beaten by Meelick Eyrecourt in the final of the Co Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Det. Insp. Paul Hargadon told a previous sitting of the court that the pub had been trading without a licence and the proprietor, Mr Donie Campbell, who had managed the Kiltormer team, had no control over the premises.
He had been drinking outside the bar on the night and encouraged up to eight young men to take part in "The Full Monty" at around 2 a.m. Seven of them stripped to their underwear and the eighth was totally naked.
He said that if Mr Campbell had handled matters in accordance with the licensing laws, the tragedy would never have happened.
There had been exchanges in the bar between Mr Coen and Walsh and both men had consumed large amounts of alcohol, he said. When Mr Coen left the pub at about 3 a.m., Walsh was waiting for him.
He attacked him with blows and also kicked him while he was unconscious on the ground. Mr Coen was taken to hospital in Ballinasloe but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The cause of death was a traumatic haemorrhage due to a blow or kick to the chin.
At the adjourned hearing yesterday, Judge Moran said it was unique and unusual for a person who pleads guilty to the offence of manslaughter not to go to prison for it. However, there were many "extenuating and mitigating circumstances".
A probation report referred to a non-custodial sentence and recommended that he should remain under the supervision of the court probation and welfare service.
It is understood that the decision to suspend the sentence may be appealed by the DPP.