Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Born

Between October 1977 and June 1978, from the ages reported

Offences

Manslaughter

Where

Co. Westmeath

Reporting

17 reports, 14 Aug 2022 to 16 Oct 2026

Outlets

irishtimes.com, rte.ie, gript.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie, kildarenow.com, offalyexpress.ie, extra.ie, longfordleader.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

• 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 2026Victim · 17 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

   victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂48IE
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

   victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂48IE
3. 16 Oct2026
   Sentencedgript.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Stag night killer jailed for 6.5 years - Gript

   victim, Paul Connolly, irish (judged from name)Paul ConnollyIE
4. 1 Jun2026
   Convictedthejournal.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in stag night killing case

   victim, Paul “Babs” Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul “Babs” Connolly♂48IE
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

   victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂48IE
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

   victim, Paul "Babs" Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul "Babs" Connolly♂48IE
7. 17 Aug2022
   Otherkildarenow.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Edenderry man fatally injured in assault is laid to rest

   victim, Paul "Babs" Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul "Babs" Connolly♂48IE
8. 15 Aug2022
   Otheroffalyexpress.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   Funeral details announced for Offaly man killed in fatal assault in Athlone

   victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂IE
9. 14 Aug2022
   Chargedoffalyexpress.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

   BREAKING NEWS: Two men charged in connection with fatal assault in which Offaly man lost his life

   victim, Paul Connolly, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Connolly♂IE
10. 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

    victim, Paul Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Connolly♂48IE
11. 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

    victim, Paul Connolly, 48, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Connolly♂48IE
12. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    Gardai slam 'disrespectful' actions of some after fatal assault in Athlone

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE
13. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedextra.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    Gardai slam 'disrespectful and upsetting' actions after fatal assault of man on Athlone stag

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE
14. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedlongfordleader.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    'It is disrespectful' - Gardaí urge people not to share images of fatal public order incident

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE
15. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    Offaly victim of fatal assault in Athlone named as gardai make further appeal

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE
16. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    Man who died after Athlone assault named as Paul ‘Babs’ Connolly

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE
17. 14 Aug2022
    Arrestedextra.ie, in Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for manslaughter in Athlone

    Gardai arrest two men over fatal assault during double stag weekend - Extra.ie

    victim, Paul 'Babs' Connolly, 47, male, irish (judged from name)Paul 'Babs' Connolly♂47IE

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.