Two men who lived rough and drank together were involved in a fatal assault on a friend, Dundalk Circuit Court has been told. The injured man never regained consciousness after the assault on June 19th-20th, 1997.
Thomas Reid (39), of Melli font Abbey, Collon, Co Louth, and Gerry Lynch (39), with an address in Donegal town, admitted assaulting Anthony McDermott at the Ramparts, Dundalk, occasioning him actual bodily harm. He died on June 30th.
Lynch said the men were friends for years and the assault occurred because of drink. Judge Raymond Groarke said the defendants had drunk a vast amount, the consequence of which was the assault. He accepted Lynch's remorse and imposed a three-year sentence. He said Reid was suffering from chronic alcoholism and imposed a two-year sentence.