Liberty Square, Thurles.
A 23-year-old Tipperary youth has been jailed for 18 years for the manslaughter of 25 year old Mr James Tynan following an unprovoked assault in Liberty Square, Thurles Co Tipperary in February 2012.
Mr Jason Morrissey residing in Toomevara, Co Tipperary pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing. It was established that Mr Morrissey did not know his victim prior to the unprovoked and fatal assault, which took place at around 1.25am, following a night out in the town.
Mr Tynan, a native of Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, was standing outside of Hayes Hotel, having exited a Night Club, when Mr Morrissey struck him in the face, in a totally unprovoked assault.
Mr Tynan died the following evening, having suffered serious head injuries when he fell, striking his head off the street’s concrete pavement.
In a victim impact statement given at the sentencing, the late Mr Tynan’s mother, Mrs Dolores Tynan, stated that her son had previously requested that he be a future organ donor and this wish had now granted sustained life to six other individuals.
At Nenagh Circuit court, today, in judgement, Judge Thomas Teehan sentenced Mr Morrissey to 21 years for this unlawful killing and other serious assaults by the accused, with the final three years to be suspended. Mr Morrissey is understood to have had 85 criminal convictions and was on bail for public order offences when he killed Mr Tynan.
A letter of apology from Mr Morrissey to the Tynan family was also read out at today’s court hearing.
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