Man pleads guilty to stag-night killing in 2022

By Tom Tuite

A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Paul "Babs" Connolly, who was attacked after going on a stag night in Athlone nearly four years ago.

Mr Connolly (48), a single man from Edenderry, Co Offaly, was seriously injured on Church Street in the Co Westmeath town in the early hours of August 13th, 2022.

Sean Munnelly (39), of Irishtown, Athlone, was charged with the unlawful killing of the victim and has been in custody on remand since the day after the incident.

Munnelly pleaded guilty when he appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Judge Power adjourned the case until October 6th for facts and sentencing.

He also directed the preparation of a victim impact statement and remanded Munnelly in continuing custody.

An earlier bail hearing in the District Court was told that another man had initially attacked Mr Connolly with kicks and blows.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Craig had said Mr Munnelly got involved in the ongoing altercation and tried to "broker peace", but Mr Connolly would not accept his hand.

The deceased, who came from a family of 12, had attempted to leave the area of Church Street and return to his hotel, but Mr Munnelly allegedly followed and struck Mr Connolly "before he went to the ground" and "never regained consciousness".

The incident had two sections, "minutes apart," and gardaí harvested CCTV footage from the vicinity.

In December 2023, construction worker David Higgins, then aged 20, of St Paul's Terrace, Athlone, was jailed for one year after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Connolly