Two cousins have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of a youth in Dublin two years ago but found guilty of reckless endangerment which led to his death.
Ronan McGrath (19), of Deerpark Road, Castleknock, and Fergal Cagney (20), of Greenacres, Kilteely, Co Limerick have been remanded by Judge Dominic Lynch on continuing bail for sentence on July 26th.
They had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing Mr David Langan (19) at Grove Road, Portobello Bridge on August 30th, 2000 in a fight after a nearby disco.
Both also denied intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct causing grevious bodily harm to Mr Langan which created a substantial risk of death on August 25th, 2000.
McGrath further pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill Mr Langan on the same date but this charge was later withdrawn from the jury.
The jury of eight men and four women returned its majority verdict after deliberating for over seven hours and spending one night in a hotel.
Evidence was given that Mr Langan and McGrath got into a scuffle on Camden Street outside the Palace disco which all three had been attending with friends.
McGrath became incensed when Mr Langan pushed him up against the shutters of the disco after the crowds had emptied on to the street.
Both men were restrained and Mr Philip Rahill pulled Mr Langan up the road towards Portobello.
McGrath was held back by his cousin, Cagney, and another man, Mr Thomas Rooney.
Mr Rooney told Mr Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, that McGrath ran after Mr Langan and caught up with him at Portobello bridge where a further altercation took place between them before McGrath was restrained again.
Mr Rooney said McGrath threatened to kill Mr Langan and said to Cagney: "Hit him, hit him, f**king hit him"
Cagney then struck Mr Langan twice in the head with the heel of his hand and he fell over, cracking his skull off the ground in the process.
The youths called an ambulance and the victim was taken to St James’ Hospital but was transferred to Beaumont Hospital the following day where he never regained consciousness. He died on August 30th.