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Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of homeless chef

Timothy Hourihane, 53, died in October 2019
Timothy Hourihane, 53, died in October 2019

A 40-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a homeless man who died from injuries sustained in an assault at a tented village in Cork city three years ago.

Christopher O'Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court today where he pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Timothy Hourihane, 53, on 13 October 2019 at Mardyke Walk.

O’Sullivan had originally been charged with murder and was due to stand trial in Cork on 30 January next year.

The 40-year-old, of no fixed abode, replied "guilty" when the charge of unlawful killing was put to him by the registrar at the brief hearing.

Siobhan Lankford SC, for the DPP, told the Central Criminal Court today that the plea to manslaughter was acceptable to the State.

Ms Lankford asked that the matter be put in for sentence on 30 January in Cork to facilitate the family of the deceased who are from the city.

Defence barrister Roisin Lacey SC requested a governor’s report on the accused.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed the preparation of the report and made an order for O’Sullivan to be produced on 30 January for sentence.