Andrew Nash jailed for manslaughter in Cork killing

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Andrew Nash was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with the final year suspended, for the manslaughter of his mother’s partner, Jonathan (Jon) Ustic. Mr Justice Michael McGrath sentenced Nash on 21 July 2023. The proceedings were reported on 21 July 2023.

Nash pleaded not guilty to murder. On the fourth day of his trial in Cork, he was rearraigned and admitted manslaughter.

The report said Nash attacked Ustic, 51, at his rented home in Skibbereen between 22 and 24 September 2017. He punched him in the head while he was in bed and later dropped a sofa on his head and body while Ustic was very drunk and lying on the floor. The report said Nash also smashed a broken bottle beside Ustic’s head, splitting his ear. Ustic died from blunt force trauma.

Nash believed Ustic had been hitting his mother. He had previously confronted Ustic and admitted giving him “a couple of slaps”.

Mr Justice McGrath described the attack as “violent and sustained”. Nash expressed remorse and apologised for killing Ustic. The judge sympathised with Ustic’s family, particularly his daughter, Paige Edens, who described the lasting effect of her father’s death in a victim impact statement.