Seán Munnelly jailed for six and a half years over Paul Connolly’s death
A judge said the final punch in a prolonged assault in Athlone was deliberate and unprovoked. Munnelly pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Seán Munnelly was sentenced on 16 October at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to seven years in prison for the manslaughter of Paul ‘Babs’ Connolly after an assault in Athlone, Ireland. The final six months of the seven-year sentence were suspended. Connolly died during a stag party in 2022.
Munnelly, 40, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Connolly, 48, who was from Edenderry, County Offaly. Connolly had become separated from his group before the assault on Church Street in the early hours of 13 August 2022. RTÉ reported that repeated punches and kicks continued over 21 minutes and that Connolly was knocked to the ground three times.
Judge’s account of the final punch
Judge Deirdre Browne said Munnelly’s final punch was deliberate, unprovoked and delivered when Connolly was visibly injured and vulnerable. She said he posed no threat. The judge treated the final blow as part of a series of assaults, rather than an isolated punch.
According to RTÉ’s account of the court proceedings, footage showed Munnelly circling Connolly before striking the right side of his head with a left-handed punch that left him unconscious. Connolly died in an ambulance on the way to hospital. A post-mortem examination found cardiac arrest arising from an interaction of head trauma, acute intoxication and the emotional stress of the prolonged assault, RTÉ reported.
Why six months were suspended
The Irish Times reported that Browne considered Munnelly’s remorse and significant efforts to rehabilitate in prison. She suspended the final six months for one year to allow that work to continue and directed him to engage with the Probation Service after release. RTÉ reported that the sentence was backdated to 27 February 2024 to account for time served on remand.
David Higgins, who was also involved in the altercations with Connolly, was previously jailed for one year for assault causing harm and violent disorder, according to The Irish Times. Browne said Connolly appeared vulnerable throughout the assaults by both men. Connolly’s family gave victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing, RTÉ reported.
Read in depth: World
First Guangdong yachts arrive in Hong Kong under new southbound scheme
Five yachts from Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Guangzhou entered Hong Kong under new cross-boundary rules for mainland leisure vessels.
UK ban on specified strangulation and incest pornography takes effect in November
The government says new offences covering possession and publication of specified pornography will take effect in England and Wales on 6 November.
Sources and context
- Man who delivered ‘final strike’ in death of man on stag jailed for six-and-a-half yearsThe Irish Times
- Man sentenced to six years for killing man on stag nightRTÉ News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.