Courts / Dublin / Report

Martial arts instructor jailed for 5.5 years for killing innocent passerby

Summary

In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 49‑year‑old Jonathan Dargan to six years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for the manslaughter of 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally. The incident occurred on 6 March 2016 at Harold's Cross Road when Dargan, a Taekwondo instructor and former nightclub doorman, attacked Mullally and his friend Shane Cunningham after a drunken altercation. Dargan struck Mullally with a punch that shattered his jaw and caused a subdural haemorrhage; Mullally died the following day. Dargan denied unlawful killing and claimed self‑defence, but the court found his martial‑arts training and intoxication made the assault an aggravating factor. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on manslaughter and a majority verdict on assaulting Cunningham; the assault charge against Mullally's niece was withdrawn. Dargan's remorse and previous clean record were noted in mitigation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Martial arts instructor jailed for 5.5 years for killing innocent passerby. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 6, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-01-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report