Man jailed for manslaughter after one punch outside pub

Paul Francis O'Boyle was 58 years old

A 58-year-old man has been jailed for the manslaughter of a man he punched outside a bar in County Antrim.

Malachy Crawford, from Esdale Terrace in the Balnamore area of Ballymoney, appeared before Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in June.

The court heard he admitted punching Paul Francis O'Boyle once on 16 April 2023, but denied he intended to kill or cause him harm.

He was sentenced to 30 months, half of which will be served in custody and half on licence.

'A physical blow'

The victim was found unconscious at the back of Sé Óg's bar on Main Street in Rasharkin.

A detective constable previously told the court how the two men were drinking in the pub.

She said that Mr O'Boyle rolled himself a cigarette and lit it while sitting at the bar, but when he got up to go to the smoking area, he headbutted Mr Crawford and then went to the beer garden.

She told the court CCTV cameras at the bar had captured Mr Crawford following Mr O'Boyle out "20 seconds later" and punching him in the face with his left hand, causing him to "fall and hit his head".

The court heard Mr Crawford accepted that aspect of the incident, but denied delivering a second blow while Mr O'Boyle was on the ground.

The court heard that a second post mortem examination had confirmed the cause of death was "from the head injury from the fall".

Mr Crawford was arrested the day after the incident.

The Judge said Mr O'Boyle's loved ones regarded him as "the heart of the family" and that "the last 18 months have been truly miserable for them and the future may not be any easier."

Following sentencing the police said: "While, unfortunately, there is nothing that can undo the tragic events of that night, I can only hope that others will take heed of the totally devastating consequence of a physical blow."