One of five young people who beat a man to death in Dublin over a stolen mobile phone says he feels “constantly sick” over what happened.
Jason Beresford of Castledermot, Co. Kildare, pleaded guilty to Dale Creighton’s manslaughter after originally going on trial for murder.
20-year-old Dale Creighton died in hospital on January 2, 2014 a day after he was beaten on a pedestrian footbridge over the Tallaght bypass.
Seven people went on trial for his murder in October, but it came to an abrupt end last month when five of them pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
They are: Jason Beresford, Castledermot, Co. Kildare, Graham Palmer, currently of Park Avenue in Portarlington, Co. Laois, Gerard Stevens of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines in Dublin, David Burke of Beechpark in Collinstown, Co. Westmeath and Ross Callery of Gortlum Cottages in Brittas, Co. Kildare.
David Burke’s sister Aisling pleaded guilty to violent disorder and James Reid of Glen Aoibhinn in Gorey, Co Wexford admitted having a knife.
At their sentence hearing today, a letter of apology was read out on behalf of Mr Beresford, who described his behaviour as “out of character and inappropriate”.
Mr Creighton’s parents have both prepared victim impact statements, which will be read out on Wednesday. Sentences will be handed down next month.
