Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Killer who beat man to point he was unrecognisable argues sentence was too severe

Summary

Garret Smith, 35, was sentenced to 13½ years in prison after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter for stamping Edward 'Liam' O'Sullivan to death in Kilkenny in 2020. The jury had deemed Smith too intoxicated to intend murder, leading to a manslaughter verdict. Smith denied the murder charge and accepted the verdict, though he argued the sentence was too severe. He was also convicted of violent disorder at the same location. In the Court of Appeal, his counsel contended that the trial judge had misclassified the offence as the worst category and had not adequately considered mitigating factors such as lack of premeditation and Smith's personal circumstances. The State maintained that the sentence was fair, citing the brutality of the assault and the victim's severe injuries. The appeal was still pending at the time of the report.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Killer who beat man to point he was unrecognisable argues sentence was too severe. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr O'Sullivan. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• February 6, 2020 Incident
• 2024-01-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Former Christian Brothers accused of breach of duty to be named in national newspaper
• High Court to consider publishing names of 340 former Christian Brothers
• Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
• Disabled snooker player acquitted of assaulting Carlow gardaí
• Mayo jury returns insanity verdict in telecoms damage case
• Musician gets 16.5 years for repeatedly raping then-wife and her sister

Read the original CNI report