Man charged with manslaughter over death in Newcastle

Man charged with manslaughter over death in Newcastle

24 July 2019

A MURDER charge against an Annalong man alleged to have killed a man in Newcastle has been lessened to manslaughter at a local court. 

Donach Rice (21), of Kilkeel Road, who appeared at Downpatrick Court on Thursday by video link from Maghaberry prison, is now charged with the manslaughter 

of 29 year-old Padraig Fox at his Burrendale Park Road flat on December 8 last year.

Rice faces five other charges, including two counts of perverting justice by faking knife wounds to “give the false impression” of self defence and making a false statement to police.

He is also charged with stealing three bottles of alcohol during a burglary at the Slieve Donard, attempted robbery of cash and fraud by false representation in that he allegedly cashed a winning betting slip at Toal’s bookmakers on the same date.

It is understood that Mr Fox had only moved into the block of flats a few months before his death. 

A defence lawyer described the incident as a “one punch matter” and asked that Rice be freed on bail given that the murder charge was being reduced.  

The lawyer said that Rice made admissions during police interviews and had also “expressed remorse” over the death.

He accepted there was “no getting away from his record”, but suggested that Rice should be released on bail and allowed to live with his brother in Scotland given that “with the best will in the world this case will not be tried until the New Year.”

Refusing bail, Judge Connolly described the defendant as a “serial criminal” who was not yet 22, but already had 69 convictions.

He remarked: “I see very serious re-offending. There are no conditions that I can put in place that would justify bail.

Rice was remanded in custody to appear back in court on August 15 for a preliminary inquiry hearing, after which he is expected to be returned for trial at a Crown Court. 

With him in the dock will be two co-accused, his cousin, Nathan Rice, and Paul Patrick Magennis. 

Nathan Rice (20), of Bernagh Green, Newcastle, is accused of burglary at the Slieve Donard Hotel and perverting the course of justice by making a false statement to police on the night of Mr Fox’s death. 

Magennis (27),of Burrendale Park Road, Newcastle, is accused of allegedly stealing a bicycle the day before Mr Fox’s death, two counts of perverting the course of justice and the attempted robbery of a man for cash on December 8. 

All three will appear in court again on August 15.