Courts / Clare / Report
Killer jailed for stabbing unarmed man to death during nightclub row
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Nathan O'Neill, aged 24, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Jamie Higgins, who was stabbed five times in a nightclub fight in Shannon on 18 March 2018. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing serious harm to Michael Shannon, for which he received a seven‑year sentence. Both sentences run concurrently and are back‑dated to 1 April 2022. The judge noted O'Neill's prior convictions for threatening to kill, possession of a knife and criminal damage, and his earlier guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí, which led to a reduction from the headline 14‑year sentence. O'Neill admitted the knife was taken from a car after an earlier altercation and that he feared further violence. The court heard victim impact statements from Higgins's family, describing the profound loss and the family's grief. O'Neill expressed remorse and apologised to the family.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Killer jailed for stabbing unarmed man to death during nightclub row. Charges or matters: manslaughter; assault causing serious harm. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 18, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 1, 2022 Incident
- July 25, 2017 Incident
- Christmas Other
- 2023-04-24 Publication
Why: "I can't touch it because I can't accept he is not there any more," she said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Co Accused
Defendant
Charges: manslaughter; assault causing serious harm (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Mr Justice Paul Burns handed down the sentence to Nathan O'Neill who produced a knife during a fight with two unarmed men and stabbed Jamie Higgins to death.
Places mentioned
Topics
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