Courts / Kildare / Report

'Out of Hand': the Dylan McCarthy manslaughter case

Summary

Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Out of Hand': the Dylan McCarthy manslaughter case. Charges or matters: manslaughter. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 21, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-02-07 Publication

Why: She explained that this occurs when there is either a punch or kick to the face that causes the head to go back and rotate, with this sudden movement backwards causing the tear. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report