Jailed for 'savage' killing

THE SISTER of a 23-year-old Limerickman kicked and beaten to death in a “savage” assault has described how her brother’s horrific…

THE SISTER of a 23-year-old Limerickman kicked and beaten to death in a “savage” assault has described how her brother’s horrific injuries will haunt her family forever.

Geraldine Ryan delivered a victim impact statement at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, where a 27-year-old man was jailed for seven years for killing her younger brother.

Tony O’Brien of Baker Place, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Keith Ryan (23), at Fernbank, O’Callaghan Strand, Limerick, on May 25th, 2006.

The manslaughter trial, which began at Limerick Circuit Court last week, was halted last Tuesday after Mr O’Brien changed his plea to guilty.

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He was previously jailed for 10 years in 2007 after being convicted of Mr Ryan’s manslaughter. However, last November the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled the conviction was unsafe and ordered a retrial.

Before jailing Mr O’Brien, who has already served 3½ years in custody, Judge Carroll Moran described the assault as “savage”.

Judge Moran imposed a seven-year sentence but ordered that Mr O’Brien be given credit for time already served in custody.

Another man, Thomas Ryan of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, who admitted Keith Ryan’s manslaughter, received a seven-year sentence in 2007.