Three men charged with the manslaughter of a 65-year-old Co Cork farmer had the charge withdrawn by the State today after they pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to John Twomey in August 2008.
The trial of the three – 57-year-old farmer Connie O'Sullivan, his 25-year-old son Finbarr O’Sullivan and his 25-year-old nephew Thomas Byrne - was due to go ahead today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
However, an application was made by Tom O'Connell, SC, on behalf of the State to withdraw the charge of manslaughter against all three and replace it with one of assault causing harm to John Twomey, at Mountrivers, Rylane, on 19 August 2008.
Mr Twomey died of a heart attack following a dispute over a land boundary, which broke out between himself and his brother, Patrick, and the three named defendants.
The three also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Patrick Twomey at Mountrivers, Rylane, on the same date.
They were released on bail to appear again before the court on 11 November next for sentencing.
