Standing in the dock of Coleraine Magistrates’ Court while the victim’s widow and relatives looked on from the public gallery, Malachy Crawford (57) confirmed he was aware of the single charge against him.
Crawford, originally from Wallace Park in Rasharkin but danced to live in Ballymoney, is accused of the murder of Paul O’Boyle on April 16 last year.
None of the facts giving rise to the charge were opened today but when Crawford first appeared in court almost exactly a year ago, the court heard that while he admits punching the victim once, he denies that he intended to kill or cause Mr O’Boyle serious harm.
His defense barrister then said that Crawford had been “deeply affected” by what had happened and had asked him specifically “to extend his sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and to echo the apologies he gave to police during the interviews.”
The 58-year-old victim, also known as ‘Fez’, was found unconscious at the rear of Sé Óg bar on Main Street in Rasharkin on Sunday, April 16, 2023, and he tragically died eight days later as a result of his injuries.
Crawford had originally been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was due to appear in court a month after the incident, but he was rearrested and charged with murder following the death.
During an ultimately successful application for bail, Detective Constable Fielding outlined how the two men were drinking at the bar, with Mr O’Boyle having consumed “14 pints of beer”.
The victim 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 Crawford and then went out into the beer garden.
DC Fielding told the court that CCTV cameras at the bar had captured Crawford following Mr O’Boyle out “20 seconds later” and, having approached the victim, punched him in the face with his left hand, causing him to “fall and hit his head”.
The court heard that while Crawford accepts that aspect of the incident, what is in dispute, however, is that, according to the police case, Crawford delivers a second blow while Mr O’Boyle is “lying prone on the ground”.
Mr O’Boyle was taken to hospital and, sadly, despite medics’ best efforts, he died eight days later. The court heard that a second post-mortem examination had confirmed the cause of death was “from the head injury from the fall.”
Crawford was arrested the following day and DC Fielding said he “made full admissions” during interviews about what had happened.
The court also heard that even before any evidence was put to Crawford at police interviews, he had given his full and frank account, which, for the most part, had been corroborated by the CCTV footage, in that there was a headbutt at the bar , that Mr O’Boyle “appears to say something to him” as he goes to the smoking area and that Crawford is seen punching him once with his left, “non-dominant hand”.
However, where there is a difference, said Crawford’s defense lawyer, is that the defendant disputes punching the victim a second time while he was on the ground.
In court today, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a prima facie case against Crawford. And while that was granted by the defense, the defendant himself declined to comment on the charge or to call evidence on his own behalf.
District Judge Peter King said he was satisfied there was a case to answer, so, returning the case to Laganside Crown Court and freeing Crawford on continuing bail, he scheduled the arraignment to be heard on June 14 and, given the nature of the charge, extended legal aid to allow a senior defense barrister to be instructed.
