Two Dublin men pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court yesterday to assaulting a former heroin addict who was beaten during an attack in the inner city which left his friend dead. Ronald Byrne and Stephen Carney admitted assaulting Mr Alan Byrne (26) occasioning him actual bodily harm in Dublin in May 1996.
They changed their pleas on Thursday and pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder in Dublin on the same date after they were rearraigned on the fifth day of their trial for the manslaughter of Mr Josie Dwyer (41), at Basin Lane.
Mr Bernard Dempsey (41), Marrowbone Flats, Dublin, was released after charges against him were dropped. Byrne (40), Cremona Road, and Carney (25), Dolphin House, Rial to, were remanded for sentencing until next Tuesday.