Man not guilty of Dublin pub murder
A 38-year-old father of two accused of murder has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter yesterday at the Central Criminal Court.
After deliberating for eight hours and 17 minutes the jury reached a majority manslaughter verdict of ten to two.
Mr James (Seamus) Morgan of Lower Mount Pleasant Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 denies the murder of Mr James Hand (aged 29) of Mountjoy Square, Dublin 7 on or between August 22 and September 5, 2002, both dates inclusive, at The Meeting Pint public house on Dorset Street Upper.
The deceased was stabbed on August 22, 2002 and died two weeks later in hospital.
It is alleged that after the accused man told the bar-girl who was a niece of the deceased he was barred from The Meeting Pint pub, he was asked to leave by Ms Amanda Kavanagh. However, the accused allegedly returned to the pub on at least three occasions in an agitated state. After Mr Hand "had words" with the accused an altercation allegedly broke out and Mr Hand was stabbed.
After the verdict was delivered, Detective Garda David O’Brien told the court that Mr Morgan had seven previous convictions including convictions for burglary, disorderly conduct, criminal damage and drunk and disorderly. Detective O’Brien said the accused man was originally from Athy, Co Kildare and was from a large family.
Mr Justice Paul Carney thanked the jury of eight men and four women for their "careful consideration" which they gave the case and exempted them from jury service for a period of 15 years.
Mr Morgan will be sentenced on May 30 next before Mr Justice Paul Carney.
