Ireland Case No. 7863Manslaughter · Co. Cork · 24 Sep 2017
Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of mother's partner in Skibbereen, Co Cork
Jonathan (John) Ustic, a 51-year-old British national, died of blunt force trauma after an attack at a house on High Street in Skibbereen, Co Cork, on a date between 24 and 25 September 2017. Andrew Nash, a 43-year-old man from Parnell Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary, the son of Ustic's partner, was later arrested and charged with murder in April 2022. Nash denied murder when first arraigned at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, and after a trial began on Monday 10 July 2023 he pleaded guilty on Thursday 13 July to manslaughter, a plea the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted. He was remanded in custody, and sources disagree on whether sentencing was due the next day or adjourned to 21 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted13 Jul
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Andrew Nash pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jonathan (John) Ustic, 51, his mother's partner.
- Where
- The killing is alleged to have taken place at a house on High Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork.
- When
- The death occurred on a date between 24 and 25 September 2017.
- Cause
- The post-mortem found the primary cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, chest and neck, with acute alcohol intoxication a contributory factor.
- Weapon
- The prosecution said Nash slashed Ustic in the ear with a broken bottle and repeatedly brought a sofa down on him as he lay on the floor.
- Investigation
- Ustic's partner raised the alarm the following morning, and Nash was seen in West Cork the day after the alleged offence.
- Other details
- Nash fled the jurisdiction by ferry to the UK within a day of the killing, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Nash, of Thurles, Co Tipperary, had 42 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and his counsel said he expressed sincere remorse for Ustic's death.
- Charges
- Nash was arrested later and was charged with murder in April 2022, some time after his arrest.
- In court
- Nash denied murdering Ustic when first arraigned at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.
- After a murder trial began on Monday 10 July 2023, Nash pleaded guilty on Thursday 13 July to manslaughter, a plea the prosecution said was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Sentence
- Nash was remanded in custody, and sources disagree on whether sentencing was set for the next day or adjourned to 21 July.
- Tom Fitchett, a man, was given a two-year suspended sentence for assisting Nash by driving him from the scene.
41 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his mother's partner, who died of blunt force trauma. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatNash entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter of John Ustic. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe case was heard in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at High Street in Skibbereen, Co Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at High Street in Skibbereen, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fatal assault took place at a house on High Street, Skibbereen. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe death occurred on a date unknown between September 24 and 25, 2017. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on a date between 24 and 25 September 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing happened between 24 and 25 September 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution said Nash slashed the victim in the ear with a broken bottle. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeThe post-mortem found the primary cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, chest and neck. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeAlcohol intoxication was said to be a contributory factor in the death. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeUstic died of blunt force trauma. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeAlcohol intoxication was a contributory factor in Ustic's death. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeNash hit Ustic twice in the head, causing a gash below his left eye. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe postmortem found Ustic died from blunt force trauma to the face, neck and chest, with acute alcohol intoxication a contributory factor. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe prosecution said Nash brought a sofa repeatedly down on the victim as he lay on the floor. (corkbeo.ie)
- weaponUstic was cut in the ear with a broken bottle. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA sofa was brought down repeatedly on Ustic. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponNash repeatedly smashed a sofa down on Ustic's head and chest. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe victim's partner raised the alarm the following morning. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationNash was seen in West Cork the day after the alleged offence and later left Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationNash was later arrested. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNash had been charged with murder. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeNash had gone on trial charged with the murder of Ustic. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe prosecution said the manslaughter plea was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNash was not charged with murder until April of the previous year, some time after his arrest. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNash denied murdering the victim. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtNash pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which the prosecution accepted. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtNash was remanded in custody for sentencing the following day. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtNash denied murdering Ustic. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNash pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ustic. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNash had initially denied murder when first arraigned at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceNash was remanded in custody for sentencing the next day in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceTom Fitchett was given a two-year suspended sentence for assisting Nash by driving him from the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge adjourned the matter until July 21 to reflect on sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherNash denied inflicting any injuries that caused Ustic's death. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNash fled the jurisdiction by ferry to the UK within a day of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNash had 42 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNash's counsel said he expressed sincere remorse for Ustic's death. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Jul2023Man who killed mother’s partner told friends ‘world better off without’ the deceased, court hears
Reports Nash's guilty plea to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, the postmortem findings, his post-incident conduct, and the adjournment of sentencing to July 21.
victim, John Ustic, 51, male, non-irish (judged from name)John Usticconvicted, Andrew Nash, 43, male, namedAndrew Nashconvicted, Tom Fitchett, male, namedTom Fitchett - 13 Jul2023Irish man pleads guilty to manslaughter of mum's partner in brutal 'sofa attack'
Nash pleaded guilty to manslaughter after denying murder at the Central Criminal Court in Cork; he was remanded in custody for sentencing the next day.
victim, Jonathan (John) Ustic, 51, male, British, non-irishJonathan (John) Usticconvicted, Andrew Nash, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Nash - 13 Jul2023Man who used sofa to attack mother's partner pleads guilty to manslaughter
Reports the guilty plea to manslaughter after a murder trial had begun, the prosecution's account of the attack, the cause of death, and that sentencing is set for the next day.
victim, Jonathan (John) Ustic, 51, male, British, non-irishJonathan (John) Usticconvicted, Andrew Nash, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Nash