Courts / Kildare / Report
25-year-old gets six years for pub melee manslaughter
Summary
A 25‑year‑old sportsman, Calvin Dunne, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy, 29, who died after being assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub in August 2022. The judge found that Dunne had delivered a one‑stride kick to McCarthy's head, which caused a traumatic head injury and spinal injury. Dunne had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but withdrew the plea; he was later found guilty of both manslaughter and violent disorder. The sentence was reduced by 25 % from a headline of nine years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. A co‑accused, Sean Kavanagh, 27, received a two‑year‑six‑month sentence for assault causing harm, with four months suspended for 12 months. Both defendants were found not guilty of murder. The court noted the impact on the McCarthy family and the defendants' low risk of reoffending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 25-year-old gets six years for pub melee manslaughter. Charges or matters: a charge of assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy, the father of the deceased; manslaughter and violent disorder, with the jury rejecting his defence of the lawful use of violence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- August 21, 2022 Incident
- January 15 Other
- August 2022 Incident
- 2025-06-30 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: a charge of assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy, the father of the deceased; manslaughter and violent disorder, with the jury rejecting his defence of the lawful use of violence (Alleged Or Contested)
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Photo: Collins) A 25-year-old "sportsman" has been jailed for six years and three months for the manslaughter of a man who died after he was assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub nearly three years ago. In passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court today, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said the prosecution had argued that Calvin Dunne had taken "a running kick" at Dylan McCarthy (29) while he was on the ground, but having viewed the CCTV footage again, the judge said that it seemed to her to be "a one-stride kick" that made contact to the head.
Convicted Person
Charges: a charge of assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy, the father of the deceased; manslaughter and violent disorder, with the jury rejecting his defence of the lawful use of violence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sean Kavanagh (27) was jailed for two years and two months having been convicted of assault causing harm and violent disorder arising out of the same incident, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin, Kildare, on August 21, 2022. In the case of Kavanagh, for the assault causing harm charge, Ms Justice Biggs said the offence belonged in the very upper end of the mid-range, with a headline sentence of 40 months.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Dublin Road
- Monasterevin
- Kildare
- Abbey View
- Monasterevin
- St Mary's Lane
- Church Avenue
Topics
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