Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury deliberating in trial of martial arts teacher accused of manslaughter
Summary
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Jonathan Dargan, a 49‑year‑old martial arts teacher from Dublin, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally on March 6, 2016. Dargan denies unlawfully killing Mullally and denies assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham during the same incident. The jury heard that Dargan, a former doorman at Lillie's Bordello, had an argument with his girlfriend after Mullally and Cunningham left a pub before 4 a.m. Dargan claimed he threw the first punch, striking Mullally, who later died from a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma. Judge Pauline Codd charged the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dargan intentionally struck Mullally without justification, that the death resulted from the assault, and that Dargan was not acting in self‑defence. The defence argues Dargan struck in a pre‑emptive manner because he believed he was under attack.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury deliberating in trial of martial arts teacher accused of manslaughter. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 6, 2016 Incident
- 2019-12-03 Publication
Why: She told jurors that the defence case is that Mr Dargan hit "a preemptive strike" because "there was a group approaching him and he used no more force than was necessary". Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Places mentioned
Topics
Pubs And Nightclubs Stage Trial Violent Crime
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