Watch: Matt O’Neill's father calls for sentencing review after 'brutal attack' in Cork
The father of a man killed in Carrigaline, Co Cork, in a "brutal attack" has called for a review of sentencing guidelines after two men were jailed for his son's killing.
Two men were found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of 29-year-old Matt O’Neill at Christmas time in 2022.
On Wednesday, Ricardo Hoey aged 21, of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, Co Cork, and Jordan Deasy aged 20, of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, were both sentenced to seven years, with the last three years of that sentence suspended.
Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Wednesday that as a child the deceased man, Matt O’Neill, could swim before he could walk and went on to save lives in sea rescues, not least once when he was only 13 years' old and that following his killing his family made the decision to have his organs donated, thus saving three further lives following his own death.
The judge said in relation to the two men being sentenced for his manslaughter: “Aggravating factors included the fact that Matt O’Neill was entirely defenceless, they had an opportunity to retreat and did not take it and the violence they used was entirely unnecessary and gratuitous.”
Mitigating factors considered by MS Justice Lankford were the fact both accused were teenagers at the time of the manslaughter, the assault was brief, they did not set out with the intention to carry out this crime and no weapon was involved.
Outside the court, Matt's father, Pat, said that as a result of the attack, his only son is dead and called for a review of "legislation and sentencing for these horrific and brutal attacks".
Giving an emotional statement, Mr O'Neill said: "Our son Matt was a victim of an unhesitating, precise and brutal attack by two men — one a trained fighter and one with a conviction for a similar assault along with 10 other convictions.
"Matt was punched and kicked in a mindless, senseless and cowardly act as he lay defenceless on the road. Every blow, and every kick, was to the head.
"Where no sentence can bring our son back, life is precious and fragile and should be protected, the sentence handed down today does not amount to justice for a brutal, violent and fatal assault.
"They killed our son and they received four years with suspension. There have been many violent and brutal attacks like this in the past and there will be many more. Whose son or whose daughter will be next?"
Mr O'Neill, speaking alongside his wife Eileen, added: "We call on our Minister for Justice and our Justice Department to review the legislation and sentencing for these horrific and brutal attacks. As a result of this attack, our only son is dead.
"Respect for the lives of our young ones is not enhanced by insufficient consequences for those who live by a violent code without respect for life."
Mr O'Neill had told the court that his late son had been a gifted swimmer and had been involved in a sea rescue at the age of 13 in Kerry, where he saved one person’s life and now had saved three more lives with the donation of his organs, which had been successfully transplanted to recipients.