Two cousins have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of a youth in Dublin two years ago, but were found guilty of reckless endangerment which led to the youth's death.
Ronan McGrath (19), Deerpark Road, Castleknock, Dublin, and Fergal Cagney (20), Greenacres, Kilteely, Co Limerick, have been remanded by Judge Dominic Lynch on continuing bail for sentencing on July 26th.
They had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing David Langan (19) at Grove Road, Portobello Bridge, Dublin, on August 30th, 2000, in a fracas which happened after they had all attended a nearby disco together. They also denied intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Langan on August 25th, 2000, which created a substantial risk of death.
McGrath further pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill Mr Langan on the same date but this charge was later withdrawn from the jury.
The jury returned its majority verdict after deliberating for more than seven hours and spending one night in a hotel.
In a statement released to the media after the trial, the Langan family said: "David was a quiet, respectable, unassuming young boy with so much to look forward to. His broken-hearted parents, P.J. and Kay, his sister Shauna and his brother Ciarán, will never comprehend or come to terms with the loss of their beloved David.
"However, they will always have treasured memories of a much-loved young boy, in the springtime of his life, who was reserved, respected and respectful, who always showed great caring in his home which he loved."
Evidence was given that Mr Langan and McGrath got into a scuffle on Camden Street outside the Palace disco, which all three had been attending with friends. McGrath became incensed when Mr Langan pushed him up against the shutters of the disco after the crowds had emptied on to the street.
Both men were restrained and Mr Philip Rahill pulled Mr Langan up the road towards Portobello. McGrath was held back by his cousin, Cagney, and another man, Mr Thomas Rooney.
Mr Rooney told Mr Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, that McGrath ran after Mr Langan and caught up with him at Portobello bridge, where a further altercation took place between them before McGrath was restrained again.
Mr Rooney said McGrath threatened to kill Mr Langan and said to Cagney: "Hit him, hit him, f--king hit him". Cagney then struck Mr Langan twice in the head with the heel of his hand and he fell over, cracking his skull off the ground in the process.
The youths called an ambulance and the victim was taken to St James's Hospital. He was transferred to Beaumont Hospital the following day, but never regained consciousness. He died on August 30th.
Another witness. Ms Jennifer O'Dowd, said that a few weeks after the incident, McGrath admitted to her in Myos pub in Castleknock that he urged Cagney to "hit him, hit him, f--king hit him" as claimed. She remembered distinctively what he said because she knew the information could prove to be crucial.
Mr John Cook, a friend of Cagney from Limerick, said the accused told him that a youth in Dublin had died after he had struck him on the head.