A 29-year-old man died from respiratory distress caused by head injuries he received from a "mild punch", Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard on the second day of a manslaughter trial.
Mr Ronan Byrne (24), South Quay, Arklow, has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr John Sherwood on September 15th, 2000. He also denies assaulting him causing him harm on September 9th, 2000, at Lawless's Hotel in Aughrim.
Ms Mary Rose Gearty, prosecuting, read to the jury the conclusion of the report by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy after she examined Mr Sherwood's body.
Dr Cassidy reported that the injuries inflicted on the deceased led to a comatose state that caused a chest infection leading to death. His injuries were caused by one punch and a subsequent fall to the ground. He died from respiratory distress caused by head injuries.
The jury previously heard that Mr Byrne punched Mr Sherwood once in the face in the car park of Lawless's Hotel in Aughrim after they both attended the wedding of the accused's sister, Ms Barbara Byrne, to Mr Derek Walsh.
Mr Sherwood was the boyfriend of another sister of the accused, Ms Catherine Byrne, and the couple had had an argument before the deceased left the hotel to walk to Arklow.
His girlfriend had asked the accused to go after him when an altercation occurred in the car park. Mr Sherwood died in Beaumont Hospital six days later.
Mr Pat Kinsella, whose band performed at the wedding, told Ms Gearty he came out of the hotel at about 1.30 a.m and saw Mr Sherwood lying on the ground. He spoke to the accused, who told him he punched the victim once.
Mr Kinsella said he saw blood trickling from Mr Sherwood's lip, whose right eye was swollen and who also had a cut on his neck. He asked him if he was okay and he mumbled that he was.
Mr Jim Kelly, a bus driver, said he saw Mr Sherwood having an argument with another man. He heard a loud bang and when he turned around, he saw Mr Sherwood lying on the ground and the other man was holding his fist.
The jury will hear closing speeches on Monday.