Two brothers have been jailed for a violent attack on a 55-year-old man in Dublin four years ago. The victim, Michael Mulvey, died at his home two weeks later.
Ian Connaghan, 34, from Ashington Rise in Cabra was found guilty of the manslaughter and jailed for eight years.
His 43-year-old brother Daniel, also from Ashington Rise, was found guilty of causing serious harm to Michael Mulvey and jailed for four years.
Mr Mulvey's family said the brothers had not shown "a single shred of remorse" for what they had done.
Mr Justice Paul Burnes described their attacks on the older man as "one-sided" and "cowardly".
Ian Connaghan was crossing at the traffic lights near the church on the Navan Road on 14 November 2019, but stepped out on the pedestrian crossing before the lights had turned green.
Michael Mulvey had to brake hard to avoid hitting him and Connaghan came over shouting at him: "I’m going to wait for you, I'm going to burn your house down, I’m going to kill you."
Ian Connaghan then walked over 1km to where the 55-year-old welder lived and attacked him there, punching him in the face and kicking him in the head and body after he fell to the ground.
Daniel Connaghan then collected his brother in a jeep and a short time later both men again attacked Michael Mulvey at a roundabout near the Halfway House pub.
Daniel Connaghan jumped on him from behind, wrapped his arms around his neck, pulled him to the ground, and punched him repeatedly in the face. Ian Connaghan punched and kicked him in the stomach and groin area.
Michael Mulvey was treated in hospital for his injuries but following his discharge he developed breathing difficulties, his face turned grey and he died thirteen days later. His partner awoke to find him dead in the bed in the early hours of 27 November.
A post-mortem examination revealed he died due to hemopneumothorax, a mixture of air and blood in his chest, but underlying conditions of heart and lung disease were contributing factors.
After the attack Ian Connaghan sent a message to a WhatsApp group, saying that he was "after opening Mulvey’s face up", while Daniel Connaghan sent a message to another brother saying that he and Ian had left Michael Mulvey "in an awful state".
Probation reports indicated that the brothers had tried to minimise their roles, which reinforced "a complete lack of remorse".
The victim’s brother, Gerry Mulvey, said in a victim impact statement that Michael had been "savagely assaulted" by the two men and "to this day, they have not shown a single shred of remorse".
His partner Pauline Matthews said that she missed Michael as a loving partner with whom she did everything and is now on medication to deal with her fear and anxiety.
Defence counsel said Ian Connaghan had written a letter of apology, in which he said he was "truly and deeply remorseful".
"Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about this altercation. I cannot change what happened, if I could, I would," he wrote.
His brother Daniel’s defence told the court he was "shocked" by Michael Mulvey’s death and wished he had stayed at home that evening.
Mr Justice Paul Burns described the attacks on Michael Mulvey as "vicious". He said Mr Mulvey was attacked twice in two different locations and the attack continued as the victim lay on the ground and apparently made little attempt to fight back.
The judge described the first attack as "one-sided", the second as "cowardly".
He sentenced Ian Connaghan to nine years in prison with the final year suspended and his brother Daniel Connaghan to five years in prison with the final year suspended.
Mr Justice Burns also said that Daniel may consider himself very lucky to have avoided a conviction for manslaughter.
