Back on the street

The latest copy of the Limerick Post (20/2/10) has a short clipping about a Limerick man arrested for public drunkenness back in January. Tony O’Brien (27) was arrested outside a Spar shop on Henry Street at 7:45am in January as he lay on the ground, too drunk to stand. In the District Court last week, Judge Tom O’Donnell heard the man had previous convictions, but nothing since early 2007. O’Brien was found guilty and fined €150.


This is the same Tony O’Brien, of Baker Place, arrested nearly four years ago after Keith Ryan (23) was found dead near the path that runs under Shannon Bridge on Thursday night, 25th May 2006, after being badly beaten just 2 days before his 24th birthday.


Keith Ryan, of Farranshone, had multiple head injuries. His nose had been fractured and his face and forehead and abdomen were stamped on. He eventually died after inhaling his own blood. It later emerged that the victim had blood alcohol levels of 260 mg at the time of his death – i.e. three times the legal limit for drivers and very drunk indeed. The State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy, said that Keith Ryan's level of intoxication could explain his lack of defensive injuries – he was simply too drunk to defend himself.


Tony O’Brien and Thomas Ryan, both then 23 years old, were arrested two days later in relation to the death. Originally both were charged with assault, but later charges of manslaughter were put to the two. Thomas Ryan pleaded guilty and was subsequently sentenced to 7 years. Tony O’Brien pleaded not guilty and was sent forward for trial.


During the 7-day manslaughter trial at Limerick’s Circuit Court, in early May 2007, details of that night began to emerge. The three friends had been drinking with others in Westfields for much of the day, and sheltered under Shannon Bridge when it started to rain. O‘Brien said the victim was “drunk and cheeky” that evening. The jury also heard that O’Brien and Keith Ryan had not been getting on and there had been an 'altercation' a few days earlier.


The fight broke out when O’Brien and his co-accused Thomas Ryan went to go to a house party in Pennywell without Kieth Ryan. He tried to follow and blows were exchanged. O’Brien admitted to hitting the victim just once but only after Ryan hit him. O’Brien said Ryan was ‘fine’ when they left him. The Defence suggested another group of youths may have inflicted more serious injuries.

The crime scene, May 2006

At Pennywell, a witnessed testified that she was asked to provide an alibi for the defendants and they had arranged for their shoes and socks to be cleaned.


After 3 hours deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict. Tony O’Brien was found guilty and was later sentenced to 10 years by Judge Joseph Mangan. O’Brien had 42 previous convictions.


Keith Ryan’s mother shouted at the judge as the sentences were delivered, while Keith’s brother Thomas called for the ‘evil’ killers to be punished. Keith’s younger brother, Michael, cited his brother’s violent death for his own criminal acts when he was tried for a number of offenses including attempting to burgle a jewelers shop in the summer of 2007.


In late 2009, O’Brien’s case came before the Court of Criminal Appeal and on 2nd November last that court ruled that his conviction should be set aside and a retrial was ordered. The Limerick Post (7/11/09) noted that O’Brien would be remanded in custody until the retrial begins, though obviously O’Brien has been a free man for some time now