Man jailed for ‘one punch’ attack that killed Irishman in Perth

An Australian man will serve at least seven years in prison for an “unprovoked” punch that killed an Irish man in Western Australia’s capital, Perth.

Abbas Yahya Al Jrood (24) hit Thomas Keaney (23) in the back of the head outside a kebab shop in the suburb of Northbridge on December 17th, 2013 after a row over seating.

He fell backwards, hit his head on the ground and suffered a brain injury.

Mr Keaney, from Ballyconneely, Co Galway, died in hospital 10 days later. His condition initially improved to the point where he spoke to his parents by phone from the hospital, but he started to deteriorate on Christmas Eve.

Al Jrood pleaded not guilty, but was convicted of manslaughter in May. Justice Ralph Simmonds said the attack was "unprovoked, unexpected, sudden and forceful", on a victim who was "vulnerable" due to intoxication, which meant he had no capacity to stop himself falling.

The judge said Al Jrood worked for a security company and had crowd control training, so more should have been expected of him in that moment.

‘Impulsive’ punch

Justice Simmonds accepted the punch was “impulsive and spur of the moment,” but said the fact Al Jrood did not stop to help the victim when he fell to the ground was an aggravating factor.

Mr Keaney’s family was in Perth during the trial and listened to the sentencing via video link.

Justice Simmonds said Mr Keaney’s death had a “terrible impact” on them.

After the verdict in May, Mr Keaney's sister Lauren called for an end to one-punch attacks, often known as "coward's punches" in Australia.

“This coward’s punch has got to stop. The effects [DON’T]just affect one family, it affects two, it tears us apart,” she said.

“The coward’s punch has shattered our lives and we ask everyone to realise the risk in partaking in such actions. We would never want anyone to go through this type of loss.

"Thomas was such a great man. He had seen a future for himself in Western Australia and it was just an unjustifiable end to such a person."

Al Jrood will be eligible for parole in 2022. His sentence was backdated to the beginning of May.