Ireland Crime

Named as

Convicted, accused

Born

Between October 2007 and October 2008, from the ages reported

Offences

Manslaughter

Where

Co. Westmeath

Reporting

8 reports, 14 Aug 2022 to 16 Oct 2026

Outlets

irishtimes.com, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie

• Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone Manslaughter · Co. Westmeath

  Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 48, from Edenderry, Co Offaly, was assaulted for 21 minutes on Church Street, Athlone, in the early hours of 13 August 2022 during a stag night and died of cardiac arrest from blunt force trauma to the head. Seán Munnelly, 40, of Irishtown, Athlone, and David Higgins, 18, of St Paul's Terrace, Athlone, were arrested and charged with assault causing harm and violent disorder. Higgins was jailed for one year in December 2023 after pleading guilty to those charges. Munnelly pleaded guilty to manslaughter in June 2026 and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on 16 October 2026.

  Sentenced, 16 Oct 2026Convicted, accused · 8 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 16 Oct2026
   Sentencedirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man who delivered ‘final strike’ in death of man on stag jailed for six-and-a-half years

   convicted, David Higgins, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂IE
2. 16 Oct2026
   Sentencedrte.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man sentenced to six years for killing man on stag night

   convicted, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE
3. 30 Jun2026
   Convictedirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Guilty plea over manslaughter of Co Offaly man who died during stag party in Athlone

   convicted, David Higgins, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂IE
4. 18 Aug2022
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man denied bail over Paul ‘Babs’ Connolly assault

   accused, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE
5. 18 Aug2022
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man accused of attacking Paul 'Babs' Connolly in fatal assault denied bail

   accused, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE
6. 18 Aug2022
   In courtrte.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man arrested over fatal Athlone assault refused bail

   accused, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE
7. 14 Aug2022
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Two men appear in court charged in connection with death of man in Athlone

   accused, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE
8. 14 Aug2022
   Chargedirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Two charged with violent disorder and assault following death of man in Athlone

   accused, David Higgins, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Higgins♂18IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.