A Sligo man (22) who killed a former soldier has been sentenced to six years for manslaughter.
Mark Sweeney of Finisklin Road, Co Sligo, was acquitted of murder last November but found guilty of the manslaughter of Paul Watters (45), of Avondale, Sligo, at Stephen Mews, Sligo, on July 27th, 2004.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said Sweeney's intake of ecstasy tablets, cocaine, cannabis and alcohol on the night of the fatal stabbing led him into the "appalling, uncharacteristic violence in which he was kicking a friend in the face".
He said he took into account Sweeney's youth, his background and the admissions he made to gardaí before sentencing him to six years dating from July 29th, 2004.
The court heard Mr Watters had been a member of the Defence Forces in the 1980s but had later developed a serious alcohol problem.
Both Mr Watters and Sweeney were unemployed and drank with a number of other people at various locations around Sligo city centre. The court was told that Sweeney was one of 19 children and was aged 21 at the time of the killing.
The State Pathologist Marie Cassidy concluded that Mr Watters died from head injuries with the deceased suffering blunt force trauma to the head.
Det Sgt Thomas Farragher said Mr Sweeney made a full admission to the gardaí when arrested.
He told gardaí that he and Mr Watters were drinking together in a laneway when an argument began when Watters said he been "with" his mother a few years ago.