A CO Meath man was cleared at the Central Criminal Court last night of murdering a teenager outside a disco in Co Cavan. He was convicted of manslaughter and will be sentenced today.
The jury of eight men and four women returned its unanimous verdict in the trial of Patrick Carry (18), after less than two hours' deliberation. It found Carry not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Tony Kenny (17), of Tromra Road, Granard, Co Longford, at Carrickatober, Crosskeys, Co Cavan, on March 6th, 1994.
At the outset of the seven day trial, Carry, of Head fort Grove, Kells, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Kenny but admitted his manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the State.
After the verdict Mr Justice Budd said he would impose sentence today. He said he wished to hear from Mr Kenny's parents about the effect of their son's death on the family and would also hear evidence on behalf of Carry.
The judge said he did not need to see a probation officer's report relating to Carry. He said he had the evidence of his own eyes that Carry's parents were horror struck at what had happened.
The trial heard Mr Kenny died following a fight with Carry out side the Carrig Springs disco in Co Cavan around 2 a.m. on March 6th, 1994. State Pathologist Dr John Harbison said it was his view Mr Kenny's death was rapid and he believed a light form of footwear was the likely source of the injury.
In his evidence to the court, Carry said he had hit Mr Kenny in the chest after, he said, Mr Kenny and another youth had started "jeering" at himself and a friend. Carry said he had kicked Mr Kenny "three to four times to the upper part of the body".
