Barman told Mayo gardaí that punch was an 'impulsive reaction'

A man accused of the manslaughter of a 60-year-old man following an incident outside a Mayo pub told gardaí that a punch he threw was an 'impulse reaction' to being rugby-tackled to the ground.

Vincent 'Jimmy' Connolly (28) of Cedar Hill, Westport is currently on trial after he pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Peter McDermott, who died from a head injury sustained in a fall outside the Clock Tavern on High Street, Westport in the early hours of September 9, 2023.

During the second day of the trial before Judge Eoin Garavan in Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, further evidence was given by witnesses to the incident, while the jury was also shown CCTV footage of Mr McDermott's final movements before the incident.

The court heard that an altercation took place outside the Clock Tavern at 1.26am on September 9 and as a result Mr Connolly punched Mr McDermott in the face, knocking him to the ground. He sustained a head injury as a result of the fall and did not regain consciousness.

Mr McDermott of Marino Lodge, Murrisk, Westport died in Mayo University Hospital at 11.54am on September 10, 2023 and a subsequent post mortem found the cause of death was due to a traumatic head injury caused by a propelled fall.

A native of Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, Mr McDermott was a married father of one daughter who had moved to the Westport area around 2015 having worked in construction in London and New York.

Garda Petrina Hastings told the court she arrived at the Clock Tavern shortly after 1.30am and witnessed a man lying on his back with people trying to assist him.

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She explained that two men approached her at the scene and informed her that they had been in an altercation with the man on the ground.

Garda Hastings said she cautioned Mr Connolly at 2.20am and she said he told her 'I did it...I hit him'. She said he also informed her that Mr McDermott had run towards him similar to a rugby tackle and knocked him to the ground.

Garda Hastings said that Mr Connolly added that when he got up he, in an impulsive reaction, punched Mr McDermott in the face and he fell to the ground.

Mr Connolly was arrested at 3.40am by Garda Hastings and charged with assault causing harm to Mr McDermott but was not questioned until 11am as he was deemed unfit for interview due to intoxication.

When questioned by Mr Dean Kelly, senior counsel for Mr Connolly, Garda Hastings said that the defendant had fully cooperated and that he was deeply upset at the scene and she believed this was genuine.

A bar manager in Heweston's Bar on Bridge Street, Mr Connolly had been at a wedding in the Westport Country Lodge Hotel before arriving at the Clock Tavern at 12.28am and was going to Henehan's Late Bar on Bridge Street with a friend, Michael Mulroy, when the altercation with Mr McDermott took place.

Garda Hastings agreed with Mr Kelly that it was evident that Mr Connolly had been drinking, but he was not falling down drunk.

A large crowd had been in Clock Tavern pub to attend a charity event and listen to The Bible Code Sundays band who had travelled from England to play at the event.

Joe Cotterhill, a drummer with The Bible Code Sundays, told the court that he was outside the pub with his father when he noticed out of the corner of his eye, an older man knock a young man to the ground. He said when the younger man got up he hit the older man and knocked him to the ground.

Mr Cotterhill said that there was immediate panic and regret on the part of Mr Connolly and he put his hands to his face.

“He was defending himself all day long,” Mr Cotterill said before adding that Mr Connolly was not angry and 'he wanted to help if anything'.

Mr Cotterhill agreed with Mr Kelly that Mr Connolly was shoulder barged to the ground with 'speed and power'.

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Kevin Cotterhill, father of Joe Cotterhill, also told the court that the older man shoulder-barged the younger man off his feet and when he got up it looked like the older man was going to punch him.

He described the punch thrown by Mr Connolly on Mr McDermott as a 'single defensive punch' and not a vicious punch.

The jury were also shown CCTV footage of Mr McDermott from when he arrived by taxi into Westport at 9.52pm up to the incident involving Mr Connolly.

Detective Garda Seán Ryan outlined that Mr McDermott first went to the Old Grainstore pub on Bridge Street before leaving and going into the neighbouring JJ O'Mallley's pub at 10.08pm. He left JJ O'Malley's at 12.20am and went towards Henehan's Bar where he was seen talking to the security staff but was not allowed in.

He then went down Bridge Street to Matt Molloy's pub at 12.24pm but was denied entry by security and a minute later he went into the Porter House pub.

CCTV showed Mr McDermott leave the Porter House at 1.16am and he approached a taxi before going back up the street to Henehan's at 1.20am. He was denied entry and at 1.25am, CCTV from outside Portwest at the top of Bridge Street showed him crossing the road in the direction of the Clock Tavern.

The jury was also shown CCTV footage from outside and inside the Clock Tavern and showed Mr Connolly enter the pub at 12.48am. Footage from inside the pub showed him leaving with Mr Mulroy at 1.25am and the altercation with Mr McDermott occurred at 1.26am.

The trial heard that Mr Connolly and Mr McDermott were not known to each other and witnesses said no words were spoken between the two before the altercation took place.

Ruth O'Brien told the court that she had been staying in Westport to attend a family reunion and was walking with her son from the Cobbler's Bar in the direction of Cosy Joe's late bar on Bridge Street.

She said that when crossing the road she met a well dressed and respectable looking man who seemed upset, agitated and argumentative.

Ms O'Brien said the man was saying he was hungry and looking for food so she directed him in the direction of the Clock Tavern which she said was the only place with people around.

She said the man claimed he had been abused and was upset and asked them for a hug. She said both she and her son gave him a hug before he ran off in the direction of the Clock Tavern.

She said she then remembered hearing a lot of shouting and that people were looking at something on the ground and a lot of commotion. She said they decided to continue in the direction they were going.

Noel McManamon also gave evidence of meeting Mr McDermott in JJ O'Malley's pub and having a conversation about work in England, GAA and other topics. He said he got to know Mr McDermott after he roofed his house and described how he was in good form on the night. He recalled he drank three pints while he was in his company and did not believe he was overly drunk at all.

The trial continues in Castlebar Courthouse tomorrow morning.