A man has been given a five-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his brother who tried to stop him driving his car off a pier in Cobh.
Edward O'Mahony (25) of 44 Springfield Park, Cobh pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his brother, Patrick at Deepwater Quay, Cobh on July 7 th2006. He also pleaded guilty to drink driving at Westbourne Place, Cobh on the same date.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Eddie O'Mahony was attempting to drive his car into the water at Deepwater Quay in Cobh when his older brother Patrick intervened and begged him to stop.
Patrick O'Mahony got into his brother's car, which Eddie then drove off the quay. Eddie O'Mahony managed to escape from the car but his brother died at the scene.
The court heard Eddie O'Mahony was depressed after splitting up with his girlfriend. He had been drinking at a party the night before the incident and had resumed drinking that morning.
Judge Patrick Moran sentenced O'Mahony to five years in prison for the manslaughter but suspended it on condition that he be of good behaviour for two years. He also disqualified him from driving for ten years.