A Galway man who beat a Dublin criminal to death and stored his body in a freezer for five years was jailed for eight years at the Central Criminal Court today.
Edward Griffin (45), Cimin Mor, Cappagh Road, Knocknacarra, Galway, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 52-year-old Patrick McCormack in June 2002 at a fish shop on Henry Street in Galway.
Michael O’Higgins SC, prosecuting, told Mr Justice Paul Carney that the defendant was in the drugs business, mainly cannabis, with McCormack. They had a falling out over money and had a fight.
Griffin had initially been charged with murder, but the DPP accepted his plea to manslaughter on the grounds of self-defence with excessive and unreasonable force used.
According to Griffin, the only witness, the Dubliner went to the fish shop where Griffin worked. Griffin gave him €13,000 in the preparation area at the back of the shop. When McCormack became angry and demanded more, Griffin turned to get more cash from the freezer.
The accused said McCormack then hit him over the back of the head with a wheel brace he had brought with him and both men began to fight. Griffin managed to take McCormack’s wheel brace and use it against him.