A man was acquitted today of murdering a PUP member who was beaten and kicked to death after a Millennium party in Antrim.
At Belfast Crown Court 20-year-old Stephen Guiney pleaded guilty to causing an affray after a defence application from Mr Charles Adair QC.
Prosecuting QC, Mr David Hunter, said that in light of his guilty plea, the Crown would offer "no further evidence" in respect of the murder charge.
Guiney, from Devon Close in Antrim, had always denied murdering 32-year-old father of three Mr Denver james Smith after the party in the Stiles estate in the town.
During the eight day hearing, the court had heard that Mr Smith's body was found on a grassy area beside the estate in the early hours of the New year after he was subjected to a "most vicious and sustained assault".
On the night of the party, a group of men had attacked a house in Andraid Close, hurling "sectarian abuse" at the occupants and breaking windows.
Mr Hunter said that as the men were retreating, "some sort of pursuit was mounted" by the people who were inside the house.
The lawyer told Mr Justice Higgins that while events were "unclear", a passing taxi driver had witnessed a man lying on the ground "being attacked by a group of men".
"It is clear that he was the subject of a most vicious and sustained attack perpetrated by a number of persons and with several weapons," said Mr Hunter.
At an earlier hearing 24 year old Stephen Fullen of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to his manslaughter while another man, Irish Guard Scott Clarke Bradshaw (21) from Devon Square, Antrim admitted to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Smith.
Bradshaw has also admitted assisting offenders in that he removed the weapons and other items from the scene.
Jerome Justin Archibald (25) from Ardnaglass Gardens in Antrim pleaded guilty to making an affray while 30-year-old Stephen Allen who also lives in Ardnaglass Gardens admitted assisting offenders in that he provided replacement clothing.
Sentencing of the men has been adjourned until Probation reports have been completed.