A Dublin man already serving a sentence for the manslaughter of a man in London in December 1994 was yesterday sentenced to six years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of another man in Dublin eight months earlier.
James Hannigan (27), unemployed, whose last address was Whitestown Park, Blanchards town, pleaded guilty last November to the manslaughter of Mr Christopher Quinn (30), at St David's Terrace, Blackhorse Avenue, North Circular Road, Dublin, on April 23rd, 1994.
In the Central Criminal Court yesterday Mr Justice Carney sentenced him to six years' imprisonment for the manslaughter, which arose out a row between the two men at a block of flats where Hannigan and his girlfriend lived.
The court heard that while Hannigan was out on bail for this offence, he killed another man in London. Det Garda Alan Bailey said the defendant lived at a block of flats at St David's Terrace with his girlfriend. On the evening of the killing, a dispute arose over the theft of items from his flat.
Hannigan suspected Mr Quinn, and when his bicycle went missing he challenged him. Words were exchanged, the detective said, after which Hannigan went back to his flat and brought out a pellet gun. During the argument he struck the deceased with the butt.
The prosecution accepted there was some dispute between the State Pathologist and a doctor who examined Quinn as to the cause of death.
However, Hannigan had rung Bridewell Garda station on May 14th 1994 and told gardai he was coming in. They had been unable to locate him since the assault. At Bridewell station, he made what the witness described as "a fulsome statement".
Hannigan was initially charged with the murder of Mr Quinn, and had been granted bail by the High Court in April 1994 on condition that he sign on daily at Blanchardstown Garda station.
Det Garda Bailey told Mr Gregory Murphy SC, prosecuting, that Hannigan last signed on at Blanc hardstown Garda station at 6:10 p.m. on December 15th, 1994.
Two days later he was arrested in London and charged with the murder of Mr Niall Mearns, who died after being stabbed at Hambelton Court, St Francis Road, East Dulwich, earlier that day.
Hannigan was subsequently found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Mearns and received a six-year sentence.
In May last year he was repatriated to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
The detective agreed with Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, that the accused told gardai he did not mean to kill Mr Quinn and had described himself as "gutted" by the two offences.
Det Garda Bailey told Mr Sammon he was aware that Hannigan's mother had taken an injunction against him in 1993, restraining him from entering her home because of his violent behaviour.
Det Garda Bailey said he was not aware Hannigan's mother had died in 1994, nor that he had been subjected to violence at the hands of his father for many years.
Mr Justice Carney imposed a six-year sentence, backdated to November 23rd, 1998.