A man has appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of an Irishman in Sydney.
Gearóid Walsh (23) from Dublin died in hospital four days after being injured in a fight outside a takeaway food shop in Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
He had been celebrating his sister Aoife’s 22nd birthday with his older brother Ciarán. Mr Walsh had only been in Australia for five weeks before the incident.
Tobias Liam Simmons (28), of Clovelly, was charged with manslaughter following Mr Walsh's death. He was granted bail when he appeared in Parramatta Bail Court today via videolink.
Mr Walsh fell to the ground outside the takeaway after he allegedly got into a fight with Mr Simmons, who turned himself into police yesterday following an emotional public plea from Mr Walsh's mother.
Mr Simmons was charged with manslaughter, reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Police allege Mr Simmons delivered the blow to Mr Walsh which caused him to fall onto concrete and hit his head. Mr Walsh did not regain consciousness and died in hospital on Thursday night.
The court was told Mr Simmons maintains he only acted in self defence.
"The victim appeared to be the aggressor up until a certain stage," Magistrate Zdenkowski said while reading police fact sheets today.
Mr Simmons' defence lawyer Peter Bodor QC told the court Mr Walsh had sworn at his brother Ciaran when he attempted to end the fight and "went back to resume what had occurred".
Mr Simmons' bail conditions include forfeiting $10,000 if he breaches bail, and attending Waverley police station three times a week. He will reappear at Waverley Local Court on November 18th.