The family of a Cork man who died after suffering a devastating brain injury in an attack has criticised the four-year sentence handed down to his killers.
Two men found guilty of the manslaughter of 29-year-old Matt O’Neill in 2022 have been jailed for four years.
21-year-old Ricardo Hoey of Ardcarrig, Carrigaline and 20-year-old Jordan Deasy of Ravensdale, Heron’s Wood, Carrigaline were before the Central Criminal Court in Cork today.
Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sentenced the pair to seven years with the final three years suspended on a number of conditions.
She summarised the case before sentencing, outlining how Ricardo Hoey and Jordan Deasy were driving out of the Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline on December 28th 2022.
They encountered Matt O’Neill who was standing in the roadway.
The pair got out of the car when the victim did not get out of the way. The court heard Hoey pushed Mr O'Neill to the ground, Deasy punched him twice and Hoey kicked him in the head.
The short incident left Mr O'Neill with a devastating brain injury and he never regained consciousness, dying at Cork University Hospital 11 days later after having his life support removed.
Matt O'Neill's parents Pat and Eileen speaking outside court flanked by family and friends in Cork, 31-7-24. Image: Image: Jamie O'Hara/NewstalkSpeaking outside the court after the sentencing, Mr O'Neill's parents Pat and Eileen said it was a senseless, cowardly act.
"Our son Matt was the victim of un-hesitating, precise and brutal attack by two men; one a trained fighter and one with a conviction for a similar assault along with 10 other convictions," they said.
"Matt was punched and kicked in a mindless, senseless, cowardly act as he lay defenceless on the road - every blow and kick was to Matt's head".
'Whose son will be next?'
Mr and Mrs O'Neill said the sentence handed down does not offer justice for their son.
"While no sentence can ever bring our son back, the sentence handed down today does not amount to justice for such a brutal, violent and fatal assault against our son," they said.
"They killed our son and received just a four year custodial sentence.
"There have been many violent and brutal attacks like this in the past and there will be many more in the future.
"Whose son or daughter will be next?"
They are calling on Justice Minister Helen McEntee "to review the legislation and sentencing for these horrific and brutal attacks."
"Respect for the lives of our loved ones is not enhanced by insufficient consequences for those who live by a violent code and without respect for life," they added.
Reporting by: Jamie O'Hara
