Courts / Dublin / Report

Family lives ripped apart by "brutal" killing of devoted dad

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Jonathan Dargan, 49, was found guilty of manslaughter after he struck Patrick Mullally, 56, with a punch during an altercation on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016. Mullally, who was celebrating his retirement from Guinness, was knocked to the ground, sustaining a shattered jaw and cheekbone that caused a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma, leading to his death the following day. Dargan, a Taekwondo instructor and former nightclub doorman, claimed he acted in self‑defence after being surrounded by Mullally, Shane Cunningham and others. He denied unlawful killing and assault on Cunningham and on Mullally's niece. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on manslaughter and a majority verdict on assaulting Cunningham. The case was adjourned for sentencing. The trial highlighted the profound impact on Mullally's family, who described the death as "brutal" and expressed deep grief and anger.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Family lives ripped apart by "brutal" killing of devoted dad. Charges or matters: killing Patrick Mullally (56) by knocking him to the ground with a punch. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• March 6, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-01-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report