Courts / Tipperary / Report
Court upholds conviction of man who murdered friend with "Bruce Lee punches"
Summary
John Hannigan, aged 48, was convicted of murder and assault causing harm after killing his friend Anthony Fallon on 18 January 2012 in Clonmel. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on both counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 28 February 2014. The trial revealed that Hannigan had called an ambulance at 7 a.m. and that a post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures, plus fractures to the collar and breast bones, with blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the major cause of death. Hannigan claimed he had lost his temper because Fallon would not stop talking and had punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee, but he later told the Gardaí he was panicking. He had also claimed to have a black belt in karate, which he later admitted he did not have. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court upholds conviction of man who murdered friend with "Bruce Lee punches". Charges or matters: murdering father-of-two Anthony Fallon in Clonmel on January 18, 2012; assault causing harm to the 46 year-old on the same date at Mr Fallon's flat on Abbey Street in the town. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 18, 2012 Incident
- February 28, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-11-22 Publication
Why: A father-of-two jailed for life for murdering his friend with what he described as 'Bruce Lee' punches because the victim 'wouldn't shut up', has lost a conviction appeal. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering father-of-two Anthony Fallon in Clonmel on January 18, 2012; assault causing harm to the 46 year-old on the same date at Mr Fallon's flat on Abbey Street in the town (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A Central Criminal Court jury found Hannigan guilty on both counts and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on February 28, 2014.
Places mentioned
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