Accused pleads guilty to manslaughter of homeless man

A 22-year-old man has been remanded in custody for sentence after he pleaded guilty on Thursday to the manslaughter of a homeless man in Cork city last year.

Daniel O'Sullivan pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing 37-year-old French man, Vincent Morgain at Lower Oliver Plunkett St in Cork city on September 10th last.

A native of Brittany, Mr Morgain died in the Mercy University Hospital on September 15th following injuries sustained in an assault five days earlier.

Mr Morgain, who had worked as a chef in Killarney, moved to Cork and was staying at the Simon Community hostel on Anderson’s Quay in Cork city at the time of his death.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, defence barrister, Elizabeth O Connell BL said that her client was anxious to be sentenced for the crime at the current criminal sittings.

However, prosecution barrister, Donal O’Sullivan BL said that it would not be possible for logistical reasons to finalise the matter during the current sittings which run until February 26th.

The court required a victim impact statement from Mr Morgain's family, who live in France, and arrangements must be put in place to allow them travel to Cork for the sentencing hearing, he said.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin adjourned the matter until April 21st for sentencing and remanded O’Sullivan, with an address at Carrowkeel in Mallow, in custody to appear again on that date.

He also recommended that O’Sullivan receive whatever counselling is deemed necessary while in prison on foot of an application by Ms O’Connell who said her client was finding prison difficult.