Two New Age travellers were jailed yesterday for seven years for their part in the killing of a Portuguese man who was beaten to death in Co Waterford last year.
Steven Job (31) and Graeme Turnbull (36), both described in court as peace activists, were convicted last month of the manslaughter of Mr Sergio Abru after a late-night row in a caravan park at Clashanahy, near Ardmore.
Job, with an address at Whiting Bay, Ardmore, Co Waterford, was sentenced to seven years' jail, with three years suspended.
Turnbull, with an address at Ballyhooley Road, in Cork, was also sentenced to seven years, with 2½ years suspended.
Mr Abru died after he was beaten by Job, Turnbull and another New Age traveller, Stuart Spicer (28), with an address at Ballyquin, c/o Ardmore post office.
Spicer was jailed for life last month for Mr Abru's murder.
The Central Criminal Court heard the three men and Mr Abru became involved in a fight on the night of September 6th, 2002, over the victim's treatment of his girlfriend, Ms Miriam Rooney, and their son, Kalem.
Mr Abru had recently served a seven-month prison sentence for assaulting Ms Rooney and Spicer had begun a relationship with her while he had been in jail, the court heard.
When the fight started, Mr Abru was punched and kicked by the trio, and struck by Spicer with a blunt instrument believed to be the foot-rest from a bus, and was dragged to a nearby field and left for dead, the court heard.
Both Job and Turnbull had come to Ireland from Scotland. Job was described by investigating garda Det Sgt Brian Goulding as an "eco-warrior" who been involved in anti-pylon protests in Ireland. The court heard he had prior convictions in Scotland for breaching the peace during protests over a planned nuclear submarine base.
Turnbull, according to his defence counsel Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, was a caring father and a "mannerly person" from a "peaceful and tranquil community".
"These people are gentle people concerned with the earth, and violence of this nature seems to be out of character."
Mr Justice O'Higgins said he accepted Job and Turnbull were not violent people and were unlikely to pose a threat to the public, but he said he must consider the seriousness of the attack on Mr Abru. He refused leave to appeal.