Case No. 1261Manslaughter · Co. Mayo · 10 Sep 2023
Westport bar manager acquitted of manslaughter over fatal pub brawl
Vincent (Jimmy) Connolly, 28, a bar manager from Westport, Co Mayo, was unanimously acquitted by a jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court of the manslaughter of Peter McDermott, 60, who died after Connolly struck a single punch to his face following a scuffle outside The Clock Tavern in the early hours of 10 September 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted22 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcDermott was taken to hospital and put on life support (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDermott knocked Connolly to the ground before Connolly returned with a punch (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two men did not know each other (irishtimes.com)
- whatBoth men had been drinking heavily before the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatConnolly had been at The Clock Tavern at a charity event with a friend after attending a wedding at Westport Country Lodge (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDermott was agitated and argumentative after being refused entry to a pub (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDermott was propelled backwards, fell to the ground and suffered injuries from which he did not recover (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDermott had worked in construction in London and New York before returning to Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDermott lunged towards Connolly and knocked him to the ground before Connolly struck the punch. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNeither party to the incident knew each other. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth men had been drinking heavily prior to the fatal incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatConnolly had been at a charity event at the Clock Tavern with a friend, Michael Mulroy, after attending a wedding at Westport Country Lodge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defence contended Connolly acted in self-defence. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution maintained it was an unlawful assault and Connolly intended to cause more than trivial injury. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn the night of the incident, McDermott had been drinking in a number of pubs, had been obstreperous, had been refused entry to a pub, and was agitated and argumentative. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred outside The Clock Tavern on Hill Street, Westport (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred outside The Clock Tavern in Westport. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place in the early hours of 10 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenMcDermott died the afternoon of 11 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fatal incident took place in the early hours of 10 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtConnolly was tried at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury unanimously found Connolly not guilty of manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Garavan told Connolly he was innocent (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence argued Connolly acted in self-defence (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution maintained it was an unlawful assault with which the accused intended to cause more than a trivial injury (irishtimes.com)
- courtSenior counsel Patricia McLoughlin closed the prosecution case (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury unanimously found Connolly not guilty of manslaughter. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtPatricia McLoughlin, senior counsel, closed the case for the prosecution, arguing Connolly was the aggressor. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDean Kelly, senior counsel, closed for the defence, rejecting the suggestion that McDermott was walking away. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcDermott was one of a family of nine born in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, and had been very successful in the construction business, working in London and New York before returning to Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jul2025Young bar manager weeps after being cleared of manslaughter over fatal pub brawl
Reports the unanimous not-guilty verdict, the judge's remarks, and trial details including the self-defence argument and the prosecution's case that Connolly was the aggressor.
victim, Peter McDermott, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Peter McDermottaccused, Vincent (Jimmy) Connolly, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent (Jimmy) Connolly - 22 Jul2025Bar manager (28) cleared of manslaughter over one-punch strike
Provides full detail of the acquittal hearing including the judge's remarks, prosecution and defence closing arguments, background on both men, and the sequence of events leading to the fatal punch.
victim, Peter McDermott, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Peter McDermottsuspect, Vincent (Jimmy) Connolly, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent (Jimmy) Connolly