Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7027Manslaughter · Co. Limerick · 15 Apr 2022

Man jailed for seven years over manslaughter of Alan Bourke in Limerick

Alan Bourke, a 48-year-old man, died following an assault by Michael Casey, a 40-year-old man, on Parnell Street in Limerick city on April 15th, 2022. The assault followed a dispute over a bag containing cans of alcohol, and Mr Bourke fell backwards and hit his head off the pavement. A postmortem found a fractured skull and a brain haemorrhage. Casey pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for seven years with the final year suspended, a sentence reported on November 27th, 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Michael Casey, 40, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alan Bourke, 48.
  • Casey struck Mr Bourke with a violent and aggressive blow, and Mr Bourke fell backwards and hit his head off the pavement.
Where
The assault happened on Parnell Street in Limerick city.
When
The assault happened on April 15th, 2022.
Cause
  • The assault followed a dispute over a bag containing cans of alcohol.
  • Another man in Casey's company had allegedly taken Mr Bourke's bag of alcohol and refused to give it back.
Other details
  • Mr Bourke, a former Republic of Ireland junior soccer player, had fallen on hard times due to struggles with alcohol, and had bought 10 cans of beer before being accosted by Casey and others.
  • CCTV footage played to the court showed Mr Bourke wheeling his bicycle and a suitcase containing clothes and a sleeping bag.
  • A postmortem found that Mr Bourke suffered a fractured skull and a brain haemorrhage after the fall.
Charges
Casey was charged with and pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alan Bourke.
In court
Casey was sentenced in court, with the sentence reported on November 27th, 2023.
Sentence
Casey was jailed for seven years with the final year suspended.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCasey struck Mr Bourke with a violent and aggressive blow. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Bourke fell backwards and hit his head off the pavement. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault happened on Parnell Street in Limerick city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assault happened on April 15th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe assault followed a dispute over a bag containing cans of alcohol. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeAnother man in Casey's company had allegedly taken Mr Bourke's bag of alcohol and refused to give it back. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael Casey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alan Bourke. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCasey was jailed for seven years with the final year suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA postmortem found that Mr Bourke suffered a fractured skull and a brain haemorrhage after the fall. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed over death of former soccer player injured during dispute over bag of cans

    Reports the sentence of seven years with the final year suspended, imposed after Casey pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the court's account of the assault, the victim's background and the postmortem findings.

    convicted, Michael Casey, 40, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Caseyvictim, Alan Bourke, 48, irish (judged from name)Alan Bourke