There were emotional scenes in Wexford Circuit Criminal Court today as 23-year-old Martin Connors was sentenced to three years in prison for the manslaughter of his brother, Michael.
Connors, of Belvedere Grove in Wexford, was found guilty in July of this year, of manslaughter of his 21-year-old brother Michael Connors, at Belvedere Grove in 2011.
The brothers' mother, Sally Connors, and sister, Margaret Connors, were both found guilty in July of attempting to impede the prosecution of Martin Connors.
Sentencing the three family members Judge Barry Hickson said he accepted brothers Martin and Michael were very close and Mrs Connors was"a decent woman" who had worked extremely hard to raise her family.
But he noted Michael Connors had in the hours before he died, driven drunk, struck his wife and had a row with his mother over car keys.
The Judge said Martin Connors had intervened in the row and as a result of an exchange of blows Michael had died, and Martin had been convicted of manslaughter.
Addressing Martin Connors directly Judge Hickson said he said he knew the defendant and his family were still suffering over what had happened and would “grieve to the end of your days”.
He said in the circumstances he felt a custodial sentence was necessary despite the family’s ongoing trauma. He sentenced Martin Connors to three years, with the last 12 months suspended “because I appreciate you will need support by way of rehabilitation”.
Judge Hickson then told Margaret Connors she had attempted to impede the garda investigation into her brother’s death and had been convicted “of a very serious offence”.
As he spoke Ms Connors moved to where Martin Connors was sitting with gardaí and the two embraced, offering tearful reassurance to each other.
As other members of the Connors family expressed their grief , the gardaí escorted Martin Connors from the room.
Judge Hickson said he would adjourn sentencing Margaret Connors for two weeks for an assessment as to her suitability for community service.
The judge then sentenced Sally Connors to six months in custody with the sentence suspended in full, subject to her entering a €200 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Sally Connors was unable to make the undertaking without being helped to stand and left the court with the aid of family members and friends.
Earier Mary Laverty SC for Margaret Connors had said Ms Connors had made her statement to gardaí after she had spent 10 days at her late brother’s bedside and hadn’t wanted any further tragedy visited on the family.
She said Margaret was one of 12 siblings and was required to help raise the younger ones. Ms Laverty asked the Judge to show the compassion which she knew he had shown in other cases which came before him.
Grainne McMorow SC for Sally Connors also asked the judge to shown compassion for her client who was on medication.
Ciaran O’Loughlin SC for Martin Connors said there were a number of grounds for appeal. While under recent rule changes it was not necessary to get a certificate allowing an appeal from the judge, he was asking for one, and asking for his client to be released on bail pending an appeal.
Judge Hickson’s said he was not allowing the appeal.
