Wednesday 28 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. 5316Manslaughter · Co. Cork · 28 Dec 2022

Two men jailed for seven years, three suspended, over manslaughter of Matt O’Neill in Carrigaline

Matt O'Neill, 29, from Carrigaline, Co Cork, was attacked at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline on 28 December 2022 and died at Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023, eleven days later. Ricardo Hoey (21) of Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, and Jordan Deasy (20) of Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, were charged with his murder, and Deasy was arrested on 31 December 2022 after going into hiding. In April 2024 a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork found both not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. On 31 July 2024 Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford sentenced both men to seven years with the last three suspended, though one report gives the sentence as four years, and O'Neill's father said the sentence does not amount to justice.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 Jul
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Hoey pushed Matt O'Neill, who fell to the ground, and Deasy then punched him twice and Hoey kicked him once in the head.
  • The pair left the scene in a car driven and owned by Hoey.
When
The attack took place on 28 December 2022, when O'Neill had left his home to buy wine.
Where
The attack happened at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline, Co Cork.
Cause
Hoey and Deasy claimed O'Neill stood waving a bottle in front of their car and would not move off the road.
Weapon
No weapon was used in the assault.
Other details
  • O'Neill died at Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023, eleven days after the attack, without regaining consciousness.
  • The judge called O'Neill entirely defenceless, described this as an aggravating factor, and noted the men were teenagers, the assault was brief and not premeditated, and both were remorseful.
  • Hoey has no previous convictions and is a scaffolder, while Deasy has eleven previous convictions, one for assault causing harm.
  • O'Neill's father, Pat O'Neill, said the sentence was far too lenient and does not amount to justice.
Investigation
Hoey presented himself to gardaí within an hour of the incident, while Deasy went into hiding and was arrested on 31 December 2022.
Charges
Hoey and Deasy were initially charged with the murder of Matt O'Neill.
In court
In April 2024 a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork found both men not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Sentence
On 31 July 2024 Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford sentenced both men to seven years with the last three suspended, though the Corkbeo report describes the sentence as four years in prison.
52 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHoey pushed Mr O’Neill, who fell to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDeasy punched Mr O’Neill twice and Hoey kicked him once in the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr O’Neill died in hospital 11 days after the attack without regaining consciousness. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDeasy punched Matt O’Neill twice and Hoey kicked him once in the head. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMatt O'Neill died eleven days after the attack in hospital having never regained consciousness (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatJordan Deasy punched Matt O'Neill twice (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatRicardo Hoey kicked Matt O'Neill once in the head (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe pair left the scene in a car driven and owned by Hoey (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatNo weapon was used in the attack (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe assault was brief and not premeditated (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack happened at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe attack occurred at Glenwood Estate in Carrigaline, Co Cork (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on December 28th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe sentence was imposed on a Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack happened on December 28, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on 28 December 2022 (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenMatt O'Neill died on 8 January 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
  • causeHoey and Deasy claimed Mr O’Neill stood waving a bottle in front of their car and would not move off the road. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHoey pushed Matt O’Neill, who fell to the ground. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponNo weapon was used in the assault. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHoey presented himself to gardaí within an hour of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDeasy went into hiding and was arrested on December 31st, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHoey went to Gardaí within an hour of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDeasy was arrested on December 31, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationRicardo Hoey presented himself to gardaí within an hour of the incident (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationJordan Deasy went into hiding but was arrested on 31 December 2022 (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeHoey and Deasy were charged with the murder of Matt O’Neill. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHoey and Deasy were both initially charged with murdering Matt O’Neill. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA Central Criminal Court jury found both men not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge warned the men they would return to prison if they reoffended. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe two men were tried at the Central Criminal Court in Cork and the jury returned manslaughter verdicts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in April 2024 (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned verdicts of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for both men (corkbeo.ie)
  • sentenceHoey and Deasy were sentenced to seven years, with the last three years suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBoth men were jailed for seven years, with the last three years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge warned both men they will return to prison if they re-offend, and both have conditions attached to their release. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceBoth men were sentenced to seven years with three years suspended (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe judge said Mr O’Neill was entirely defenceless, which she described as an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the men were teenagers at the time, the assault was brief and not premeditated. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHoey had no previous convictions, while Deasy had 11, including one for assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge accepted that both men were remorseful. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPat O’Neill, Mr O’Neill’s father, said the sentence was far too lenient. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMatt O’Neill died in hospital eleven days after the attack without regaining consciousness. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMatt O’Neill died at Cork University Hospital on January 8, 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMatt O’Neill’s father said the sentence does not amount to justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMatt O'Neill was born in Brisbane, Australia (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherRicardo Hoey is a scaffolder with no previous convictions (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherJordan Deasy has eleven previous convictions, one of which is for assault causing harm (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherHoey and Deasy were teenagers at the time of the offence (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherMatt O'Neill saved lives during a rescue at sea at age thirteen (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherMatt O'Neill was the couple's only son (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2024
    Sentencedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Parents of unprovoked attack victim say killers' 4-year sentence 'not justice'

    Reports the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court in Cork on 31 July 2024, including the judge's reasoning, the victim impact statement, and the parents' reaction to the sentence.

    victim, Matt O'Neill, 29, male, non-irish (judged from name)Matt O'Neillconvicted, Ricardo Hoey, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ricardo Hoeyconvicted, Jordan Deasy, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jordan Deasy
  2. 31 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Father slams 'insufficient' sentences for men guilty of son's manslaughter

    Sentencing report. The article covers the sentences of Hoey and Deasy after their manslaughter convictions, the court’s reasoning, and the victim family’s reaction. No existing case matches this incident.

    victim, Matt O'Neill, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Matt O'Neillconvicted, Ricardo Hoey, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ricardo Hoeyconvicted, Jordan Deasy, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jordan Deasy
  3. 31 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Sentence imposed on two men convicted of Matt O’Neill’s manslaughter ‘does not amount to justice’, father says

    Reports the Central Criminal Court sentencing of the two men convicted of manslaughter, the judge’s reasons, and the victim’s family’s reaction calling for a review of sentencing.

    victim, Matt O'Neill, male, irish (judged from name)Matt O'Neillconvicted, Ricardo Hoey, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ricardo Hoeyconvicted, Jordan Deasy, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jordan Deasy