Ryan and Mackey found guilty of violent disorder

The jury in the Brian Murphy manslaughter trial tonight found two men guilty of violent disorder but has yet to reach a verdict on the charge of manslaughter.

The jury has now retired to a hotel for the night and will resume its deliberations on this charge at 10.15 a.m. tomorrow.

Just before 7 p.m., the forewoman of the jury informed Judge Michael White that the jury had reached unanimous decisions that Mr Desmond Ryan and Mr Sean Mackey were guilty of violent disorder.

Mr Ryan (23), from Cunningham Road, Dalkey, and Mr Mackey (23), of South Park, Foxrock, are still awaiting verdicts on the charge of manslaughter.

Following more than 15 hours deliberation on the evidence, Judge White said he would prefer if the jury's consideration did not extend beyond tomorrow.

If the jury at anytime tomorrow felt it was impossible for it to reach a verdict, it should inform the court of this, Judge White said.

Earlier today the jury asked to hear again transcripts of the evidence from two witnesses in the trial.

The jury was read transcripts of the evidence from Mr Paul Mooney and Mr Paul Cahill, both of whom had given accounts of what they had seen outside Club Anabel on the night Mr Murphy died. The readings of transcripts took 45 minutes and the jury retired to continue deliberations afterwards.

Yesterday Dermot Laide (22) from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was found guilty of manslaughter by a 10-2 majority. He was also found guilty, by unanimous decision, of violent disorder.

Mr Andrew Frame (22) from Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, was acquitted of violent disorder.

The four accused had denied charges of unlawfully killing 18-year-old Mr Murphy after a fight outside the Burlington Hotel on August 31st, 2000, but only three faced that charge yesterday, following the Judge White's direction that Mr Frame be acquitted of manslaughter due to insufficient evidence.

The four former Blackrock College students had also pleaded not guilty to using or threatening to use unlawful violence on the same date.

Mr Murphy died from swelling to the brain caused by severe facial injuries after he had been attacked by a group of up to six youths, following a student night out in Club Anabel in the Burlington Hotel.