The father of Dermot Laide, one of the three young men today given jail terms following the death of Brian Murphy outside a Dublin nightclub, has said his son was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice.
Dermot Laide, 22, from Castleblaney in Co Monaghan, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Brian Murphy outside Club Anabel in August 2000.
He was also sentenced to two years for violent disorder, to run concurrently with his manslaughter sentence.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Michael White said Laide's actions had led to a substantial escalation of the incident in which Mr Murphy was beaten to death.
Speaking outside the court, Brian Laide said his son had told the truth and it was evident from the trial process that many witnesses did not.
Mr Laide said the Murphy family had asked for the truth and that the Laides are also asking for the truth, and that the truth must win out in the end.
Mr Laide also expressed sincere sympathy to the Murphy family.
Sean Mackey, 23, of Foxrock in Dublin, was sentenced to two years for violent disorder and Desmond Ryan, 23, from Dalkey in Dublin, was sentenced to nine months for violent disorder. Ryan's sentence will begin after he completes his university exams.
Both Laide and Mackey have since been taken to Mountjoy Prison.
Mr Murphy's family said they needed time to absorb the impact of the sentences handed down.
Brian's father Denis Murphy said no one should forget that Brian was savagely beaten to death, and that those convicted will be back with their families in a short period of time.
'Club Annabel' issue statement
The club that Brian Murphy attended before he was kicked to death has said it stopped running drinks promotions but only in response to a change in the law.
'Club Anabel' issued a statement in which it extended its sympathy to the Murphy family but said it didn't wish to comment further.
