Brian Murphy case: How events unfolded

August 31st, 2000: Brian Murphy (18) from Clonskeagh dies after being involved in a violent incident outside Club Anabel at Dublin's Burlington Hotel.

January 13th, 2004: The trial of four men charged with the manslaughter of Brian Murphy opens at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They are Andrew Frame (then 22) from Nutley Lane, Donnybrook; Dermot Laide (then 22) from Rossvale, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan; Seán Mackey (then 23) from South Park, Foxrock, and Desmond Ryan (then 22) from Cunningham Road, Dalkey. They all plead not guilty and deny committing violent disorder by using or threatening to use unlawful violence. The case is to continue for more than six weeks, involving 103 witnesses.

January 15th, 2004: Dr John Harbison, then State Pathologist, tells the court that Brian Murphy's injuries were caused by "considerable violence" and his death was also complicated by the inhalation of blood.

February 16th, 2004: Andrew Frame is found not guilty of manslaughter by direction of Judge Michael White because of unsafe evidence against him.

February 25th, 2004: Dermot Laide is found guilty of manslaughter and guilty of violent disorder. Andrew Frame is acquitted of violent disorder.

February 26th, 2004: Desmond Ryan and Seán Mackey are found guilty of violent disorder.

February 27th, 2004: Desmond Ryan is acquitted of manslaughter. The jury fails to agree on a manslaughter charge against Seán Mackey and it later emerges that he will not face a retrial on this charge.

March 8th, 2004: In a sentence hearing, Brian Murphy's mother Mary delivers an emotional victim impact statement, saying her son was killed in a "concerted savage attack". His father Denis tells the court that people did not tell the truth during the trial and there were now "more questions than answers".

March 15th 2004: Dermot Laide receives a four-year sentence for manslaughter and violent disorder. Seán Mackey is sentenced to two years for violent disorder. Desmond Ryan is sentenced to nine months for violent disorder, but this is deferred to allow him to do university exams.

November 24th, 2004: Seán Mackey loses his appeal against the severity of his sentence for violent disorder.

February 24th, 2005: Dermot Laide wins his appeal against his manslaughter conviction but the Court of Criminal Appeal directs his retrial on this charge. The court upholds his conviction for violent disorder. At the same hearing, Desmond Ryan wins his appeal against his conviction for violent disorder.

September 2005: Dermot Laide and Seán Mackey complete their prison sentences in Loughan House and Shelton Abbey respectively.

April 21st, 2006: Dermot Laide's legal team is told that the State will not go ahead with his retrial for manslaughter. It emerges that the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, has made a new statement on the case which conflicts with the report from her predecessor, Dr John Harbison.

April 24th, 2006: Edward Comyn SC, for the DPP, tells Judge Michael White that the State will be entering a nolle prosequi (no prosecution) in the case because of "ongoing evidential difficulties". Judge Michael White tells Dermot Laide that he is free to go.