A 40-year-old man who kicked another man to death within ten seconds following a row over a 70 cent phone call has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Zhen Dong Zhao of Jervis Street in Dublin pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Noel Fegan, 40, in a Dublin city centre internet café in May of 2011.
The café manager was originally convicted of murder but the verdict was overturned on appeal.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said Zhao's actions were "utterly disproportionate".
Zhen Dong Zhao was before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing today after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Noel Fegan in Dublin five years ago.
At around 3.50pm on 20 May 2011, father of two Noel Fegan and his friend went in to the e-Times internet café to phone his daughter.
He was worried after he had received a 'call me' text from his teenage daughter and had no credit on his own phone.
A row broke out between Zhen Dong Zhao and Noel Fegan over whether or not he had gotten through on the phone and owed 70 cents.
Zhao admitted chasing and attacking Mr Fegan, kicking him repeatedly in the body, head and neck. He died a short time later.
Zhen Dong Zhao later told the gardaí he was sorry for what he had done, he could not face his victim’s family.
"For 70 cent he lost his life”, he said "and I destroyed mine."
The attack which killed Mr Fegan lasted between seven and ten seconds.
Zhao's defence counsel said he continues to suffer from what happened in that time and that he utterly regrets his loss of control.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said it was "utterly disproportionate" for Zhao to act the way he did, kicking Mr Fegan four to five times in the head before pausing and delivering another kick to the head.
He took into account of his remorse, early plea, and the likelihood he would not re-offend and sentenced Zhao to six years in prison.
Mr Fegan's niece Claudia Doyle spoke on behalf of the family after the sentencing. She said they were disappointed with the jail term handed down but nothing would bring her uncle back now.
Mr Fegan was a recovering drug addict. His family says he was not homeless and was turning his life around, a fact acknowledged by the judge in court today.
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